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 $1,282 per month in Zatec vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,963 per month in Zatec vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,644 per month in Zatec vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zatec is about 1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zatec and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zatec 4% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.91 Kč 144

$11.73 MX$203

-41.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.54 Kč 387

$41.62 MX$721

-55.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 Kč 193

$10.64 MX$184

-13.06%

Cappuccino

$3.00 Kč 62.5

$3.52 MX$61.0

-14.77%

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

$0.73 Kč 15.20

$1.51 MX$26.17

-51.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 Kč 20.24

$0.97 MX$16.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 Kč 47.61

$2.95 MX$51.1

-22.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 Kč 52.0

$4.45 MX$77.2

-43.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 Kč 18.81

$1.38 MX$23.97

-34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 Kč 29.58

$1.89 MX$32.78

-24.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 Kč 43.89

$1.64 MX$28.37

28.66%

Eggs

$2.59 Kč 53.9

$2.51 MX$43.42

3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.82 Kč 121

$8.34 MX$145

-30.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 Kč 114

$8.34 MX$145

-34.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.82 Kč 142

$10.73 MX$186

-36.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 Kč 27.97

$2.60 MX$45.12

-48.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 Kč 33.45

$1.46 MX$25.25

9.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 Kč 43.30

$1.90 MX$32.94

9.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 Kč 83.8

$2.08 MX$35.98

93.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 Kč 20.00

$1.78 MX$30.77

-46.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 Kč 27.70

$2.19 MX$37.87

-39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 Kč 33.88

$1.04 MX$18.02

56.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 Kč 10.75

$1.08 MX$18.66

-51.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.18 Kč 129

$4.08 MX$70.7

51.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.63 Kč 117

$10.32 MX$179

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 Kč 19.49

$1.71 MX$29.67

-45.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 Kč 39.05

$2.58 MX$44.63

-27.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 Kč 7.19

$0.51 MX$8.83

-31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.83 Kč 539

$26.46 MX$459

-2.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 Kč 59.5

$3.26 MX$56.5

-12.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 Kč 31.06

$2.49 MX$43.17

-40.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.13 Kč 315

$3.25 MX$56.3

365.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 Kč 36.39

$1.31 MX$22.65

33.59%

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

$27.9K Kč 581.7K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

-7.85%

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

$29.8K Kč 622.0K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

27.34%

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

$314 Kč 6,539

$82.9 MX$1,436

278.51%

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

$25.02 Kč 522

$22.22 MX$385

12.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.54 Kč 428

$29.34 MX$508

-29.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 Kč 1,104

$51.6 MX$895

2.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.03 Kč 355

$18.32 MX$317

-7.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 Kč 239

$5.07 MX$87.8

126.43%

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

$427 Kč 8,897

$201 MX$3,480

112.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K Kč 302.4K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

178.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 Kč 1,820

$36.92 MX$640

136.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.49 Kč 844

$39.79 MX$689

1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.98 Kč 959

$78.5 MX$1,360

-41.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 Kč 2,352

$87.1 MX$1,509

29.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 Kč 7,504

$973 MX$16.9K

-62.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 Kč 6,743

$468 MX$8,105

-30.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 Kč 24.0K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-29.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$868 Kč 18.1K

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-28.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,310 Kč 110.7K

$3,946 MX$68.4K

34.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,845 Kč 59.3K

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-56.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,184 Kč 24.7K

$664 MX$11.5K

78.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.56

11.42

-51.31%

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

Last update for Zatec: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Zatec versus $973 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 78% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $249 – 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 Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,923 per month in Zatec and $1,945 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 $1,282 in Zatec and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $1,282, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.