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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,215 per month in Yaguajay vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,695 per month in Yaguajay vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,175 per month in Yaguajay vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yaguajay is about 6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Yaguajay and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yaguajay 9% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.90 CUP 142
$11.94 MX$208
-50.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.69 CUP 425
$42.75 MX$744
-58.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 CUP 168
$10.59 MX$184
-33.81%
Cappuccino
$1.33 CUP 31.92
$3.62 MX$63.0
-63.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 CUP 30.62
$1.47 MX$25.54
-12.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 CUP 25.76
$0.94 MX$16.41
13.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 CUP 35.02
$3.09 MX$53.8
-52.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 CUP 41.57
$4.46 MX$77.6
-61.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.86 CUP 68.5
$1.43 MX$24.80
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 CUP 20.02
$1.88 MX$32.79
-55.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 CUP 56.9
$1.63 MX$28.34
45.40%
Eggs
$3.07 CUP 73.6
$2.64 MX$45.99
16.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.73 CUP 138
$8.21 MX$143
-30.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.13 CUP 123
$8.29 MX$144
-38.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 CUP 287
$11.10 MX$193
7.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.93 CUP 118
$2.65 MX$46.14
86.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 CUP 26.00
$1.50 MX$26.11
-28.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 CUP 31.77
$1.99 MX$34.59
-33.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 CUP 31.84
$2.08 MX$36.13
-36.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 CUP 42.03
$1.79 MX$31.11
-2.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 CUP 64.7
$2.18 MX$37.87
23.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 CUP 24.56
$1.08 MX$18.73
-5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 CUP 25.89
$1.04 MX$18.04
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 CUP 85.4
$3.97 MX$69.1
-10.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.07 CUP 242
$10.20 MX$178
-1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 CUP 42.77
$1.73 MX$30.04
2.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CUP 45.97
$2.50 MX$43.46
-23.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 CUP 4.47
$0.52 MX$9.02
-63.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.08 CUP 482
$26.97 MX$469
-25.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 CUP 48.52
$3.14 MX$54.7
-35.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 CUP 9.95
$2.40 MX$41.80
-82.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.65 CUP 472
$3.09 MX$53.7
535.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CUP 29.42
$1.27 MX$22.16
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.1K CUP 1.6M
$30.9K MX$537.3K
117.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$76.5K CUP 1.8M
$23.3K MX$405.7K
228.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.84 CUP 836
$82.0 MX$1,427
-57.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.57 CUP 974
$22.45 MX$391
80.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$254 CUP 6,087
$29.66 MX$516
755.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 CUP 977
$51.9 MX$903
-21.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.01 CUP 360
$18.67 MX$325
-19.60%
Cinema Ticket
$0.98 CUP 23.50
$4.97 MX$86.5
-80.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 CUP 2,809
$198 MX$3,442
-40.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K CUP 269.7K
$5,273 MX$91.7K
113.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.66 CUP 952
$36.34 MX$632
9.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.86 CUP 717
$40.05 MX$697
-25.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.2 CUP 1,829
$79.9 MX$1,390
-4.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0 CUP 1,920
$88.9 MX$1,547
-9.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 CUP 8,777
$963 MX$16.8K
-62.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 CUP 9,252
$465 MX$8,086
-17.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 CUP 24.2K
$1,596 MX$27.8K
-36.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 CUP 14.5K
$1,209 MX$21.0K
-50.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$395 CUP 9,479
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-89.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$339 CUP 8,127
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-94.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yaguajay
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$53.4 CUP 1,281
$720 MX$12.5K
-92.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
11.42
-27.06%

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

Last update for Yaguajay: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in Yaguajay 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 1250% 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 $18.00 in Yaguajay versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $251 – making Yaguajay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Yaguajay vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Yaguajay?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,823 per month in Yaguajay 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 Yaguajay, 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 Yaguajay vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,215 in Yaguajay 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 34% less in Yaguajay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Yaguajay or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yaguajay, where all-in costs run around $1,215, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Yaguajay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yaguajay or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yaguajay – 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 Yaguajay. 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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