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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,275 per month in Zatec vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,032 per month in Zatec vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,790 per month in Zatec vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zatec is about 1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zatec and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zatec 7% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 Kč 152

$11.71 MX$198

-37.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.30 Kč 401

$46.59 MX$788

-58.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 Kč 195

$11.65 MX$197

-19.57%

Cappuccino

$3.04 Kč 63.2

$4.09 MX$69.2

-25.67%

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

$0.73 Kč 15.21

$1.37 MX$23.23

-46.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 Kč 20.17

$0.83 MX$14.09

16.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 Kč 50.2

$3.35 MX$56.7

-27.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Kč 65.7

$6.91 MX$117

-54.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 Kč 18.55

$1.73 MX$29.20

-48.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Kč 30.35

$2.26 MX$38.21

-35.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 Kč 50.9

$1.77 MX$29.91

38.42%

Eggs

$2.61 Kč 54.3

$2.73 MX$46.19

-4.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 Kč 127

$9.18 MX$155

-33.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.65 Kč 117

$8.92 MX$151

-36.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 Kč 147

$12.60 MX$213

-43.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 Kč 27.48

$3.02 MX$51.1

-56.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 Kč 34.48

$1.57 MX$26.55

5.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 Kč 46.72

$2.13 MX$35.93

5.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.51 Kč 73.0

$2.26 MX$38.28

55.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 Kč 20.65

$2.00 MX$33.88

-50.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 Kč 22.82

$2.06 MX$34.90

-46.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 Kč 34.86

$1.18 MX$19.94

42.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Kč 11.41

$1.20 MX$20.35

-54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.41 Kč 133

$4.63 MX$78.4

38.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 Kč 118

$10.69 MX$181

-46.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 Kč 19.25

$1.62 MX$27.38

-42.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 Kč 36.07

$2.88 MX$48.70

-39.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Kč 6.73

$0.57 MX$9.69

-43.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.20 Kč 565

$29.83 MX$504

-8.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 Kč 60.9

$5.45 MX$92.1

-46.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 Kč 40.87

$3.70 MX$62.6

-46.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.35 Kč 361

$5.98 MX$101

190.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 Kč 39.31

$1.55 MX$26.26

21.94%

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

$32.8K Kč 681.1K

$22.3K MX$377.4K

46.76%

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

$30.7K Kč 638.9K

$25.9K MX$438.7K

18.45%

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

$312 Kč 6,492

$89.1 MX$1,507

250.44%

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

$23.42 Kč 487

$25.04 MX$423

-6.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.60 Kč 407

$31.50 MX$532

-37.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 Kč 1,351

$67.8 MX$1,146

-4.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.06 Kč 417

$28.92 MX$489

-30.64%

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 Kč 285

$5.05 MX$85.4

171.68%

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

$766 Kč 15.9K

$225 MX$3,803

240.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K Kč 252.2K

$4,222 MX$71.4K

187.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.2 Kč 1,958

$47.44 MX$802

98.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.63 Kč 824

$44.98 MX$760

-11.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.61 Kč 1,010

$82.0 MX$1,386

-40.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 Kč 2,644

$92.1 MX$1,557

38.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 Kč 7,828

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-64.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 Kč 7,178

$405 MX$6,852

-14.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Kč 22.7K

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-43.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 Kč 20.9K

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-22.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,182 Kč 107.7K

$3,995 MX$67.5K

29.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,180 Kč 86.9K

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-36.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,190 Kč 24.7K

$749 MX$12.7K

58.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.64

11.45

-59.48%

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

Last update for Zatec: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Zatec 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 59% higher in Zatec, 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 $19.00 in Zatec versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $277 – making Zatec 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,913 per month in Zatec 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 Zatec, 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 $1,275 in Zatec 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 10% less in Zatec. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zatec, where all-in costs run around $1,275, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Zatec it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zatec – 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 Zatec. 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.