Cost of Living Comparison Between Ventanas and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ventanas and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $914 per month in Ventanas vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Ventanas vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in Ventanas vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ventanas is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ventanas and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ventanas 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$11.94 MX$209
-71.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.70 $46.70
$42.75 MX$748
9.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 $8.22
$10.59 MX$185
-22.38%
Cappuccino
$2.51 $2.51
$3.62 MX$63.4
-30.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.47 MX$25.69
-40.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 $0.62
$0.94 MX$16.51
-34.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.09 MX$54.1
-1.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 $4.55
$4.46 MX$78.0
2.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.43 MX$24.94
-20.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.88 MX$32.97
-9.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.63 MX$28.50
8.59%
Eggs
$2.59 $2.59
$2.64 MX$46.26
-1.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$8.21 MX$144
-26.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$8.29 MX$145
-35.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.08 $6.08
$11.10 MX$194
-45.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.65 MX$46.40
-20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.50 MX$26.26
-26.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.99 MX$34.79
-44.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$2.08 MX$36.33
-49.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.79 MX$31.29
6.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.18 MX$38.09
-32.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.08 MX$18.84
-31.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 MX$18.15
-2.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91 $5.91
$3.97 MX$69.5
48.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$10.20 MX$179
17.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.73 MX$30.22
-10.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.50 MX$43.71
-10.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$0.52 MX$9.07
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.76 $23.76
$26.97 MX$472
-11.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.14 MX$55.0
-12.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.40 MX$42.04
-57.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.85 $9.85
$3.09 MX$54.0
218.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 $0.64
$1.27 MX$22.28
-49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
27.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.42 $37.42
$82.0 MX$1,435
-54.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 $13.81
$22.45 MX$393
-38.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.22 $32.22
$29.66 MX$519
8.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.44 $30.44
$51.9 MX$908
-41.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.50 $14.50
$18.67 MX$327
-22.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.59 $7.59
$4.97 MX$87.0
52.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 $309
$198 MX$3,462
56.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,847 $5,847
$5,273 MX$92.3K
10.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 $51.5
$36.34 MX$636
41.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.00 $43.00
$40.05 MX$701
7.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$79.9 MX$1,398
27.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$88.9 MX$1,555
24.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 $335
$963 MX$16.9K
-65.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 $313
$465 MX$8,133
-32.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 $619
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-61.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 $490
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-59.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,267 $1,267
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-67.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$902 $902
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-86.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ventanas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.35
11.42
-18.13%

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

Last update for Ventanas: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Ventanas 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Ventanas versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Ventanas vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Ventanas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Ventanas vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ventanas?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,371 per month in Ventanas and $1,930 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 Ventanas, 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 Ventanas vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $914 in Ventanas and $1,287 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 14% less in Ventanas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ventanas or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ventanas, where all-in costs run around $914, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ventanas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ventanas or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ventanas – 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 Ventanas. 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.

Ventanas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Ciudades similares