😐A single person spends $1,854 per month in Urbino vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,767 per month in Urbino vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,680 per month in Urbino vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Urbino costs about 47% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Urbino sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.44€27.60
$11.61MX$201
179.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3€52.2
$42.75MX$742
43.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€9.89
$10.60MX$184
9.62%
Cappuccino
$1.58€1.35
$3.59MX$62.3
-55.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.67
$1.45MX$25.21
115.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.49
$0.90MX$15.58
94.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.19€4.42
$3.03MX$52.6
71.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.43
$4.56MX$79.2
-11.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66€1.41
$1.45MX$25.20
14.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23€1.90
$1.83MX$31.72
21.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72€2.31
$1.61MX$27.92
68.94%
Eggs
$3.90€3.32
$2.54MX$44.05
53.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.65€13.32
$8.54MX$148
83.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.44€10.59
$8.47MX$147
46.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.39€16.50
$10.86MX$189
78.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.03
$2.73MX$47.37
-12.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.71
$1.49MX$25.91
34.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58€2.19
$1.94MX$33.73
32.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20€2.72
$2.16MX$37.57
48.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.51
$1.85MX$32.05
-4.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.44
$2.19MX$38.00
-22.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.29
$1.07MX$18.62
42.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.42
$1.08MX$18.81
-54.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.73€5.73
$4.06MX$70.5
65.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08€6.03
$10.46MX$182
-32.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.40
$1.65MX$28.71
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.06
$2.55MX$44.23
-5.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.45
$0.56MX$9.65
203.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.01€36.60
$26.20MX$455
64.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.74€4.89
$3.14MX$54.5
82.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59€1.35
$2.37MX$41.17
-32.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.68€29.51
$3.24MX$56.2
970.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.72
$1.31MX$22.81
54.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K€27.9K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.2K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
38.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219€186
$83.1MX$1,443
163.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.41€11.41
$22.15MX$385
-39.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.14€26.50
$29.37MX$510
6.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6€47.34
$51.2MX$889
8.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.33€19.85
$18.69MX$324
24.83%
Cinema Ticket
$10.28€8.74
$4.89MX$84.9
110.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557€474
$199MX$3,449
180.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,978€6,789
$5,207MX$90.4K
53.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6€73.7
$35.93MX$624
141.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.01€32.35
$39.39MX$684
-3.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.4€76.9
$80.3MX$1,394
12.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€108
$87.6MX$1,520
45.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$759€646
$963MX$16.7K
-21.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$581€495
$482MX$8,370
20.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,200€1,021
$1,645MX$28.6K
-27.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935€796
$1,192MX$20.7K
-21.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,183€2,708
$3,957MX$68.7K
-19.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,415€2,055
$6,513MX$113.1K
-62.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urbino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,390€1,183
$726MX$12.6K
91.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
11.42
-61.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Urbino: April 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $759 in Urbino versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 91% higher in Urbino, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Urbino versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $331 vs $253 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Urbino vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Urbino?
Yes – Urbino is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,782 per month in Urbino and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Urbino vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,854 in Urbino and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 64% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Urbino or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Urbino at $1,854. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Urbino it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Urbino or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Urbino or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Urbino makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.