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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $707 per month in Zunyi vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,126 per month in Zunyi vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,544 per month in Zunyi vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Zunyi is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zunyi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Zunyi 48% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 ¥19.27
$11.61 MX$201
-75.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.29 ¥145
$42.75 MX$742
-50.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.81 ¥32.88
$10.60 MX$184
-54.62%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥21.10
$3.59 MX$62.3
-13.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.94
$1.45 MX$25.21
-70.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.82
$0.90 MX$15.58
-70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ¥6.09
$3.03 MX$52.6
-70.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ¥14.45
$4.56 MX$79.2
-53.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ¥12.41
$1.45 MX$25.20
25.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥11.09
$1.83 MX$31.72
-11.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.13
$1.61 MX$27.92
-44.10%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥10.96
$2.54 MX$44.05
-37.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 ¥88.9
$8.54 MX$148
52.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 ¥21.54
$8.47 MX$147
-62.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 ¥69.0
$10.86 MX$189
-6.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥12.69
$2.73 MX$47.37
-31.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.30
$1.49 MX$25.91
-18.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 ¥10.14
$1.94 MX$33.73
-23.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.46
$2.16 MX$37.57
-49.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 ¥5.05
$1.85 MX$32.05
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.24
$2.19 MX$38.00
-58.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.16
$1.07 MX$18.62
-42.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.52
$1.08 MX$18.81
-51.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 ¥21.73
$4.06 MX$70.5
-21.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 ¥72.7
$10.46 MX$182
1.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.50
$1.65 MX$28.71
-50.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥11.17
$2.55 MX$44.23
-35.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$0.56 MX$9.65
-48.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.65 ¥114
$26.20 MX$455
-36.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ¥9.25
$3.14 MX$54.5
-57.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.40
$2.37 MX$41.17
-85.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.60 ¥45.06
$3.24 MX$56.2
103.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥7.95
$1.31 MX$22.81
-11.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥130.3K
$30.5K MX$530.2K
-37.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K ¥118.3K
$23.8K MX$413.6K
-27.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.40 ¥310
$83.1 MX$1,443
-45.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.68 ¥66.1
$22.15 MX$385
-56.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.62 ¥79.4
$29.37 MX$510
-60.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.19 ¥281
$51.2 MX$889
-19.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82 ¥94.4
$18.69 MX$324
-26.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.95 ¥40.65
$4.89 MX$84.9
21.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,287
$199 MX$3,449
68.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K ¥115.7K
$5,207 MX$90.4K
225.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 ¥293
$35.93 MX$624
19.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.87 ¥204
$39.39 MX$684
-24.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 ¥491
$80.3 MX$1,394
-10.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 ¥496
$87.6 MX$1,520
-17.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 ¥1,903
$963 MX$16.7K
-71.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 ¥1,292
$482 MX$8,370
-60.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 ¥4,032
$1,645 MX$28.6K
-64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ¥2,416
$1,192 MX$20.7K
-70.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,047 ¥20.8K
$3,957 MX$68.7K
-22.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,004 ¥13.7K
$6,513 MX$113.1K
-69.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zunyi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$726 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
11.42
-65.94%

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

Last update for Zunyi: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Zunyi versus $963 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 $21 in Zunyi versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $253 – making Zunyi 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
Zunyi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Zunyi?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,061 per month in Zunyi and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zunyi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Zunyi vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $707 in Zunyi and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Zunyi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Zunyi or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zunyi, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. In Zunyi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zunyi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zunyi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zunyi. 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.

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