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 $1,008 per month in Zepce vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Zepce vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,053 per month in Zepce vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zepce is about 22% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zepce and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zepce 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.64 BAM 14.51

$11.73 MX$203

-26.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.42 BAM 69.6

$41.62 MX$720

-0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 BAM 15.17

$10.64 MX$184

-15.13%

Cappuccino

$1.57 BAM 2.64

$3.52 MX$60.9

-55.40%

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

$1.94 BAM 3.25

$1.51 MX$26.12

28.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$0.97 MX$16.84

18.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 BAM 3.53

$2.95 MX$51.0

-28.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 BAM 4.66

$4.45 MX$77.0

-37.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BAM 2.26

$1.38 MX$23.93

-2.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BAM 2.14

$1.89 MX$32.72

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 BAM 2.63

$1.64 MX$28.32

-4.88%

Eggs

$3.00 BAM 5.04

$2.51 MX$43.34

19.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 BAM 15.72

$8.34 MX$144

12.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.56 BAM 14.39

$8.34 MX$144

2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 BAM 20.33

$10.73 MX$186

12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 BAM 2.40

$2.60 MX$45.04

-45.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BAM 2.74

$1.46 MX$25.20

11.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.90 MX$32.87

2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 BAM 3.39

$2.08 MX$35.91

-2.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 BAM 2.02

$1.78 MX$30.71

-32.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 BAM 2.13

$2.19 MX$37.80

-42.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BAM 2.05

$1.04 MX$17.99

17.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BAM 1.29

$1.08 MX$18.62

-28.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.77 BAM 6.33

$4.08 MX$70.6

-7.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.24 BAM 13.85

$10.32 MX$178

-20.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.19

$1.71 MX$29.61

-58.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 BAM 1.91

$2.58 MX$44.54

-55.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 BAM 2.95

$0.51 MX$8.81

245.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.83 BAM 60.2

$26.46 MX$458

35.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$3.26 MX$56.4

-53.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$2.49 MX$43.09

-53.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 BAM 14.74

$3.25 MX$56.2

169.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 BAM 2.47

$1.31 MX$22.61

12.21%

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

$28.7K BAM 48.2K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-5.26%

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

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

12.56%

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

$169 BAM 284

$82.9 MX$1,433

103.97%

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

$18.80 BAM 31.59

$22.22 MX$384

-15.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.60 BAM 39.66

$29.34 MX$507

-19.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.62 BAM 49.76

$51.6 MX$893

-42.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 BAM 18.64

$18.32 MX$317

-39.47%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 BAM 4.87

$5.07 MX$87.6

-42.80%

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

$240 BAM 404

$201 MX$3,473

19.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,688 BAM 6,196

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-29.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 BAM 125

$36.92 MX$639

101.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.25 BAM 62.6

$39.79 MX$688

-6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 BAM 151

$78.5 MX$1,357

14.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 BAM 206

$87.1 MX$1,506

40.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 BAM 436

$973 MX$16.8K

-73.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 BAM 280

$468 MX$8,090

-64.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 BAM 607

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-78.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BAM 538

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-73.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,375 BAM 3,991

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-39.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 BAM 3,061

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-71.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

11.42

-56.04%

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

Last update for Zepce: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Zepce 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Zepce versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $249 – making Zepce 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, 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 $1,512 per month in Zepce 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 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 $1,008 in Zepce 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 35% less in Zepce. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zepce, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.