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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Yilan vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,701 per month in Yilan vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,405 per month in Yilan vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yilan is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Yilan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Yilan 27% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.36 NT$107

$11.71 MX$199

-71.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 NT$950

$46.59 MX$791

-35.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 NT$146

$11.65 MX$198

-60.34%

Cappuccino

$2.82 NT$89.4

$4.09 MX$69.5

-31.05%

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

$1.00 NT$31.61

$1.37 MX$23.34

-27.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NT$21.74

$0.83 MX$14.16

-16.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 NT$45.93

$3.35 MX$56.9

-56.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 NT$89.3

$6.91 MX$117

-59.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 NT$96.7

$1.73 MX$29.33

76.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 NT$56.0

$2.26 MX$38.39

-21.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 NT$85.4

$1.77 MX$30.05

51.98%

Eggs

$2.51 NT$79.7

$2.73 MX$46.41

-8.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.65 NT$909

$9.18 MX$156

212.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 NT$246

$8.92 MX$151

-13.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.99 NT$539

$12.60 MX$214

34.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 NT$139

$3.02 MX$51.3

45.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 NT$62.2

$1.57 MX$26.68

24.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 NT$58.8

$2.13 MX$36.10

-13.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 NT$69.2

$2.26 MX$38.46

-3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 NT$37.58

$2.00 MX$34.04

-41.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 NT$60.3

$2.06 MX$35.06

-7.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 NT$73.5

$1.18 MX$20.04

96.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 NT$28.66

$1.20 MX$20.45

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 NT$122

$4.63 MX$78.7

-17.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 NT$502

$10.69 MX$182

47.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 NT$45.32

$1.62 MX$27.50

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 NT$80.9

$2.88 MX$48.93

-11.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 NT$23.95

$0.57 MX$9.74

31.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.87 NT$1,138

$29.83 MX$507

20.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 NT$83.1

$5.45 MX$92.5

-51.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 NT$30.83

$3.70 MX$62.9

-73.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 NT$300

$5.98 MX$102

58.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 NT$31.61

$1.55 MX$26.38

-35.48%

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

$25.5K NT$808.6K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

14.16%

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

$19.5K NT$617.3K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

-25.02%

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

$47.65 NT$1,512

$89.1 MX$1,514

-46.54%

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

$15.19 NT$482

$25.04 MX$425

-39.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.13 NT$670

$31.50 MX$535

-32.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.85 NT$1,010

$67.8 MX$1,151

-53.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 NT$247

$5.05 MX$85.8

54.06%

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

$341 NT$10.8K

$225 MX$3,820

51.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K NT$552.3K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

312.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 NT$1,726

$47.44 MX$806

14.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.05 NT$985

$44.98 MX$764

-30.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 NT$2,709

$82.0 MX$1,392

4.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 NT$1,976

$92.1 MX$1,564

-32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 NT$8,708

$1,069 MX$18.2K

-74.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 NT$7,905

$405 MX$6,884

-38.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 NT$30.9K

$1,935 MX$32.9K

-49.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$744 NT$23.6K

$1,301 MX$22.1K

-42.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 NT$227.9K

$3,995 MX$67.9K

79.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,078 NT$161.1K

$6,626 MX$112.5K

-23.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,009 NT$32.0K

$749 MX$12.7K

34.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.27

11.45

-80.17%

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

Last update for Yilan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $274 in Yilan versus $1,069 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 35% higher in Yilan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Yilan versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Yilan vs $277 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

Yilan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Yilan and $1,940 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 Yilan, 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 $997 in Yilan and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 20% less in Yilan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yilan, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Yilan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yilan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Yilan. 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.