Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruapan del Progreso and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Uruapan del Progreso and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,189 per month in Uruapan del Progreso vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,964 per month in Uruapan del Progreso vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Uruapan del Progreso vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Uruapan del Progreso is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Uruapan del Progreso and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Uruapan del Progreso 14% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.59 MX$197
$11.96 MX$203
-3.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 MX$1,088
$47.38 MX$804
35.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 MX$166
$11.75 MX$199
-16.94%
Cappuccino
$2.71 MX$45.91
$4.12 MX$70.0
-34.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 MX$13.65
$1.40 MX$23.74
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MX$10.39
$0.91 MX$15.48
-32.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$49.49
$3.21 MX$54.4
-9.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 MX$33.92
$7.07 MX$120
-71.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.38
$1.68 MX$28.44
-17.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 MX$48.41
$2.15 MX$36.48
32.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.39
$1.77 MX$30.10
-15.25%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.69
$2.82 MX$47.76
3.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 MX$146
$9.20 MX$156
-6.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.77 MX$166
$9.23 MX$157
5.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.59 MX$231
$12.64 MX$214
7.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 MX$56.0
$2.95 MX$50.1
11.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.26
$1.58 MX$26.79
12.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 MX$17.81
$2.22 MX$37.70
-52.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 MX$20.22
$2.36 MX$40.09
-49.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 MX$26.17
$1.99 MX$33.81
-22.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 MX$21.65
$1.98 MX$33.58
-35.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 MX$25.67
$1.24 MX$21.04
21.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.20
$1.21 MX$20.55
-21.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85 MX$82.3
$4.60 MX$78.1
5.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.29 MX$208
$10.52 MX$178
16.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$42.25
$1.69 MX$28.70
47.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 MX$75.1
$2.77 MX$47.06
59.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MX$12.29
$0.60 MX$10.22
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 MX$58.5
$5.24 MX$88.8
-34.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 MX$45.96
$3.65 MX$61.9
-25.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 MX$148
$5.78 MX$98.1
50.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.16
$1.54 MX$26.09
-14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K MX$385.8K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K MX$441.7K
$25.8K MX$437.9K
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,106
$90.7 MX$1,538
-28.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.61 MX$485
$25.19 MX$427
13.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.23 MX$462
$31.75 MX$539
-14.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.86 MX$625
$68.8 MX$1,167
-46.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.82 MX$370
$29.37 MX$498
-25.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87 MX$82.7
$4.86 MX$82.5
0.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$287 MX$4,872
$226 MX$3,828
27.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,478 MX$92.9K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
30.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 MX$969
$47.38 MX$804
20.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.37 MX$804
$43.45 MX$737
9.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$1,808
$80.2 MX$1,361
32.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 MX$1,754
$91.4 MX$1,550
13.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$662 MX$11.2K
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-39.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$408 MX$6,929
$409 MX$6,933
-0.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 MX$19.1K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-42.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$818 MX$13.9K
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-36.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,951 MX$33.1K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-51.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,247 MX$21.2K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-81.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uruapan del Progreso
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$478 MX$8,104
$773 MX$13.1K
-38.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.99
11.45
4.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Uruapan del Progreso: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $662 in Uruapan del Progreso versus $1,086 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 62% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $64.0 in Uruapan del Progreso versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $278 – 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
Uruapan del Progreso vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Uruapan del Progreso?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 10%, 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 $1,783 per month in Uruapan del Progreso and $1,958 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 Uruapan del Progreso, 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 Uruapan del Progreso and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,189 in Uruapan del Progreso and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Uruapan del Progreso and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Uruapan del Progreso or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Uruapan del Progreso, where all-in costs run around $1,189, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Uruapan del Progreso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Uruapan del Progreso or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Uruapan del Progreso – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Uruapan del Progreso. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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