Bangkok vs Playa del Carmen: cost of living for digital nomads

Bangkok, Thailand and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Playa del Carmen is about 3% cheaper than Bangkok for a month of nomad living ($1,670 vs $1,720).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Bangkok against $820 in Playa del Carmen.
  • Both score 7/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Bangkok: 230 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Bangkok wins 3 of the measured lines; Playa del Carmen wins 2.

LineBangkokPlaya del Carmen
Monthly total (USD)$1,720$1,670
Rent$720$820
Food$420$430
Transport$60$50
Coworking$130$130
Safety (out of 10)7/107/10
Internet (Mbps)23080
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemetromid
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/109/10

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.