Cost of Living Comparison Between Windsor, NS and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Windsor, NS and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,345 per month in Windsor, NS vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,293 per month in Windsor, NS vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Windsor, NS vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Windsor, NS costs about 86% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Windsor, NS sits 74% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.66 CA$20.09

$11.61 MX$201

26.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.46 CA$51.3

$42.75 MX$742

-12.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 CA$12.27

$10.60 MX$184

-15.57%

Cappuccino

$3.64 CA$4.98

$3.59 MX$62.3

1.39%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.33

$1.45 MX$25.21

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 CA$1.83

$0.90 MX$15.58

47.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.83

$3.03 MX$52.6

88.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.04

$4.56 MX$79.2

28.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 CA$2.76

$1.45 MX$25.20

39.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$1.83 MX$31.72

58.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.57

$1.61 MX$27.92

152.17%

Eggs

$3.97 CA$5.44

$2.54 MX$44.05

56.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 CA$16.84

$8.54 MX$148

43.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.66 CA$20.08

$8.47 MX$147

73.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$22.97

$10.86 MX$189

54.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.63

$2.73 MX$47.37

50.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.14

$1.49 MX$25.91

4.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$1.94 MX$33.73

97.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 CA$7.37

$2.16 MX$37.57

149.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 CA$2.93

$1.85 MX$32.05

15.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.01

$2.19 MX$38.00

0.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.68

$1.07 MX$18.62

151.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.64

$1.08 MX$18.81

78.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.39

$4.06 MX$70.5

356.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 CA$15.87

$10.46 MX$182

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 CA$4.60

$1.65 MX$28.71

103.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$2.55 MX$44.23

28.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$0.56 MX$9.65

317.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.4 CA$86.8

$26.20 MX$455

141.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 CA$10.57

$3.14 MX$54.5

145.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$1.98

$2.37 MX$41.17

-39.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.62 CA$40.57

$3.24 MX$56.2

814.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.65

$1.31 MX$22.81

-7.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K CA$34.3K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

-18.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.6K CA$28.3K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

-13.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$131 CA$179

$83.1 MX$1,443

57.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.19 CA$45.47

$22.15 MX$385

49.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.46 CA$49.95

$29.37 MX$510

24.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 CA$58.2

$51.2 MX$889

-17.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$11.14 CA$15.27

$4.89 MX$84.9

127.81%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$167 CA$228

$199 MX$3,449

-16.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.0K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

124.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.75 CA$55.8

$35.93 MX$624

13.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.60 CA$47.40

$39.39 MX$684

-12.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 CA$116

$80.3 MX$1,394

5.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 CA$188

$87.6 MX$1,520

56.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 CA$1,780

$963 MX$16.7K

34.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 CA$1,595

$482 MX$8,370

141.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 CA$2,734

$1,645 MX$28.6K

21.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 CA$2,487

$1,192 MX$20.7K

52.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,281 CA$5,865

$3,957 MX$68.7K

8.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,174 CA$4,348

$6,513 MX$113.1K

-51.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 CA$1,299

$726 MX$12.6K

30.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

11.42

-43.43%

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

Last update for Windsor, NS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,299 in Windsor, NS 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 31% higher in Windsor, NS, 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 $37 in Windsor, NS versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Windsor, NS vs $253 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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

Windsor, NS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Windsor, NS is pricier by about 86%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,518 per month in Windsor, NS and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,345 in Windsor, NS and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 142% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Windsor, NS at $2,345. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windsor, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Windsor, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.