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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,139 per month in Zepce vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,709 per month in Zepce vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Zepce vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zepce is about 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zepce and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zepce 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 BAM 16.73

$11.96 MX$202

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 BAM 88.9

$47.38 MX$800

11.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.23 BAM 18.87

$11.75 MX$198

-4.43%

Cappuccino

$1.92 BAM 3.23

$4.12 MX$69.6

-53.40%

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

$2.58 BAM 4.33

$1.40 MX$23.63

84.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 BAM 2.81

$0.91 MX$15.40

83.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BAM 4.29

$3.21 MX$54.1

-20.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 BAM 6.03

$7.07 MX$119

-49.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 BAM 2.50

$1.68 MX$28.31

-11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 BAM 2.12

$2.15 MX$36.31

-41.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 BAM 2.82

$1.77 MX$29.96

-5.08%

Eggs

$2.92 BAM 4.91

$2.82 MX$47.54

3.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 BAM 16.86

$9.20 MX$155

9.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.82 BAM 14.82

$9.23 MX$156

-4.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.33 BAM 24.08

$12.64 MX$213

13.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 BAM 3.20

$2.95 MX$49.83

-35.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 BAM 3.34

$1.58 MX$26.66

25.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 BAM 3.87

$2.22 MX$37.53

3.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 BAM 2.93

$2.36 MX$39.90

-25.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 BAM 1.77

$1.99 MX$33.65

-47.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$1.98 MX$33.42

-28.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 BAM 1.97

$1.24 MX$20.94

-5.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BAM 1.47

$1.21 MX$20.46

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 BAM 6.62

$4.60 MX$77.7

-14.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.21 BAM 13.78

$10.52 MX$178

-21.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BAM 1.75

$1.69 MX$28.56

-38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 BAM 2.36

$2.77 MX$46.84

-49.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 BAM 2.26

$0.60 MX$10.17

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 BAM 3.02

$5.24 MX$88.4

-65.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 BAM 1.96

$3.65 MX$61.6

-67.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.02 BAM 30.27

$5.78 MX$97.7

211.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 BAM 2.82

$1.54 MX$25.97

9.09%

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

$31.0K BAM 52.1K

$22.8K MX$385.0K

36.03%

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

$22.0K BAM 36.9K

$25.8K MX$435.8K

-14.83%

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

$165 BAM 276

$90.7 MX$1,531

81.46%

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

$16.96 BAM 28.49

$25.19 MX$425

-32.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.72 BAM 63.4

$31.75 MX$536

18.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 BAM 57.2

$68.8 MX$1,162

-50.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 BAM 20.11

$29.37 MX$496

-59.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 BAM 5.03

$4.86 MX$82.1

-38.27%

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

$299 BAM 503

$226 MX$3,811

32.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,694 BAM 6,204

$4,194 MX$70.8K

-11.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.7 BAM 142

$47.38 MX$800

78.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.39 BAM 62.8

$43.45 MX$734

-13.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 BAM 187

$80.2 MX$1,355

38.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 BAM 247

$91.4 MX$1,543

61.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 BAM 607

$1,086 MX$18.3K

-66.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 BAM 434

$409 MX$6,900

-36.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 BAM 902

$1,972 MX$33.3K

-72.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 BAM 636

$1,281 MX$21.6K

-70.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,538 BAM 4,263

$4,046 MX$68.3K

-37.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,846 BAM 3,101

$6,704 MX$113.2K

-72.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

11.45

-61.22%

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

Last update for Zepce: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Zepce versus $1,086 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Zepce versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Zepce vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Zepce 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,709 per month in Zepce and $1,958 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 Zepce, 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 $1,139 in Zepce and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Zepce and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zepce, where all-in costs run around $1,139, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Zepce it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zepce – 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 Zepce. 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.