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City comparison

Montevideo vs Playa del Carmen

In short

Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.

  • Rent

    in Montevideo cheaper — −36%

  • Internet

    in Playa del Carmen cheaper — −62%

  • Ready-made house

    in Montevideo cheaper — −63%

In numbers

Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.

  • House or apartment rent

    per month
    Montevideo≈ $577–827UYU 23,124–33,147
    cheaper by 36%
    Playa del Carmen≈ $698–1,490MX$12,500–26,750
  • Internet

    per month
    Montevideo≈ $41–108UYU 1,650–4,342
    Playa del Carmen≈ $17–40MX$300–725
    cheaper by 62%
  • Winter

    average
    Montevideo7–15 °C7–15 °C
    Playa del Carmen19–29 °C19–29 °C
  • Precipitation

    per year
    Montevideo1,101 mm1,101 mm
    Playa del Carmen1,490 mm1,490 mm
  • Ready-made house

    purchase
    Montevideo$118k$118k
    cheaper by 63%
    Playa del Carmen≈ $251–391kMX$4.5–7M

By topic

A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.

Daily life

Montevideo

Spread by neighbourhood

From 16k pesos in Casavalle to 34k in Carrasco: between the cheapest and the most expensive neighbourhood it is a little over two times.

OfficialINE: average rent by neighborhood in Montevideo, active contracts · checked 28 Sep 2026

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Playa del Carmen

Spread by district

A two-bedroom in the Real Ibiza complexes 8–10.5k pesos, in Centro more often 20–21k, in Playacar 23.5–28k, near Mayakoba 19–27.5k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Who lives here

According to the 2020 census the city has 304,942 residents, the municipality 333,800. 61% of residents were born in another state of Mexico.

OfficialINEGI: 2020 census, results by locality in Quintana Roo (ITER) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about daily life in Playa del Carmen →

Housing

Montevideo

Rent according to official data

The average existing contract in Montevideo is 23,472 pesos a month. Pocitos 28,018, Punta Carretas 28,959, Centro 23,124 (July 2026).

OfficialINE: rental market indicators, July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Rent: what is asked now

A two-bedroom in Pocitos is about 39k pesos a month, in Punta Carretas 50k, in Centro 29.9k. A three-bedroom house in Carrasco is 2,300–5,500 dollars.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Pocitos · checked 28 Sep 2026

Buying: median of transactions

The median of registered transactions in Montevideo is 118k dollars (June 2026), nationwide 85k.

OfficialINE: housing sales market indicators, June-July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Two-bedroom in Pocitos

By the listings, about 298k dollars for 72 m² in Pocitos, range 120–680k. These are asking prices, not transactions.

SpecialistGallito: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Pocitos · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Long-term rent

A two-bedroom by listings: about 20,000 pesos a month. Of 150 offers, 33 are under 15k, 61 are 15 to 25k, 56 are above 25k.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for rent in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Buying an apartment

Two-bedrooms for sale: 286 listings up to 4.5 million pesos, 275 from 4.5 to 7 million, 312 above. On the first page about 40% of prices are in dollars.

SpecialistMercado Libre: two-bedroom apartments for sale in Playa del Carmen · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Playa del Carmen →

Money and prices

Montevideo

Family monthly budget

A family of three renting housing in Montevideo is considered poor at an income below 54,233 pesos a month. For two the threshold is 39,169.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 28 Sep 2026

Groceries for a family

The INE minimum food basket for Montevideo is 6,309 pesos per person a month, for a family of four about 25,200. Values for January 2025.

OfficialINE: income poverty estimate, first half of 2025, with poverty lines · checked 28 Sep 2026

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Playa del Carmen

Family budget per month

The INEGI poverty line for cities is 4,905.33 pesos per person, 19,621 a month for a family of four (August 2026). A lower threshold without rent, not a real budget.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Groceries for a family

INEGI basket, August 2026: 1,767 pesos per person excluding meals out, about 7,070 a month for a family of four. This is an average for cities across the country, not the price in Playa.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 1 Oct 2026

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Family and kids

Montevideo

Schools and kindergartens

Enrolment in a state kindergarten from age three and in school goes through the Guri Familia portal. The country of origin and the family's status do not matter.

OfficialMinistry of Education and Culture: guide to enrolling migrants, primary education · checked 28 Sep 2026

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Playa del Carmen

Private schools

Two schools in Playa: IPC La Salle 4,500–6,450 pesos a month (2026–2027), Colegio Inglés up to 8,540 (2025–2026). Entry fee 5,700–8,990 once a year.

OfficialIPC La Salle, Playa del Carmen: home page, tuition questions · checked 30 Sep 2026

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Healthcare

Montevideo

How much healthcare costs

The regulator's benchmark for a personal contribution to a mutualista (a private health fund) is 6,858 pesos a month per person. The cap on a co-payment for a visit, test or medicine is 880 pesos.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of Public Health: healthcare price adjustment, July 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Healthcare on the spot

Private Hospiten Riviera Maya: 23 beds, 2 intensive care, 24-hour emergency, with paediatrics. Hospiten in Cancún has 34 beds and 10 intensive care.

SpecialistHospiten Riviera Maya: hospital page, capacity and departments · checked 29 Sep 2026

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Transport

Montevideo

Getting around the city

One hour of travel with an STM card costs 52 pesos, two hours 78. Cash is more expensive: 64 and 97. The first card is free.

OfficialMontevideo city hall: urban public transport fares · checked 28 Sep 2026

Carrasco airport

On Ruta 101, kilometre 19.95. There are 18 direct destinations, only Madrid in Europe and only Miami in the US.

SpecialistCarrasco airport: direct destinations · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Roads and the airport

To Cancún airport it is about 58 km by road, calculated at 48 minutes without traffic. To the new Tulum airport, 105 km, about an hour and a half.

SpecialistOSRM using OpenStreetMap maps: route from Fundadores park to Cancún airport · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Playa del Carmen →

Climate

Montevideo

Winter

July is the coldest month: average minimum 7.2 degrees, average maximum 15.0. June and August are almost the same.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Montevideo · checked 28 Sep 2026

Precipitation and seasonality

About 1,100 mm a year, and surprisingly evenly distributed: in any month from 83 to 109 mm and 8–10 rain days.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Montevideo · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Winter

The coolest month is January: on average from 19.4 to 28.6 degrees at the Cozumel station across from the city. No cold in the usual sense.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

Summer and heat

August is the hottest month: average maximum 33 degrees, about 23.5 at night (Cozumel station). From May to August 32–33 degrees in the day.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

Rainfall and seasonality

About 1,490 mm a year. Dry from February to April (32–60 mm a month), rains from June to October, peaking in September and October at 240 mm each.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Cozumel · checked 29 Sep 2026

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Nature

Montevideo

Nothing yet

Playa del Carmen

Sargassum on the beaches

In August 2026 there were about 1.7 million tonnes of seaweed in the western Caribbean, more than in 75% of years since 2011. A decline is expected by November.

SpecialistUSF: sargassum bulletin for the Caribbean Sea, August 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about nature in Playa del Carmen →

Safety

Montevideo

Homicides

In 2025 Montevideo had 210 homicides out of 369 nationwide, that is 57%. Nationwide it is 10.3 per 100 thousand residents.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior: preliminary crime statistics for 2025 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Robberies by neighbourhood

Robbery reports (rapiña) in 2025: Pocitos 125, Carrasco 59, Cordón 290, Casavalle 481, Unión 564. These are the number of cases, not adjusted for population.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior, open data: crime reports by Montevideo neighborhood (microdata through 2025) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Thefts by neighbourhood

Reports of theft without violence in 2025: Cordón 2,697, Pocitos 2,062, Carrasco 517. This includes thefts from cars and shops, not only from passers-by.

OfficialUruguay's Ministry of the Interior, open data: crime reports by Montevideo neighborhood (microdata through 2025) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Hurricanes

Four hurricanes made landfall near the city: Delta and Zeta (October 2020), Grace (August 2021), Beryl (July 2024). Delta was category 2, the rest category 1.

OfficialNHC: Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Beryl (AL022024) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Homicides by the statistics

In 2024 the Solidaridad municipality had 84 homicides, about 25 per 100k residents. In Cancún 39 per 100k, for the state 35.

OfficialINEGI: open data on registered deaths for 2024 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Playa del Carmen →

Internet and phone

Montevideo

Internet speed

State-owned Antel offers up to 1000/300 Mbit/s over fibre, and the basic home plan is 400/30.

OfficialAntel: data transmission price list, 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Internet per month

From 1,650 pesos for 400 Mbit/s to 4,342 for a gigabit. Taxes included, two-year contract.

OfficialAntel: data transmission price list, 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Montevideo →

Playa del Carmen

Internet per month

Fiber of 50–200 Mbps costs 300–725 pesos a month. Telmex, izzi, Megacable and Totalplay are 349–390, often a promotional price. Data from a comparison site, September 2026.

SpecialistSelectra México: internet in Playa del Carmen, providers and plans, September 2026 · checked 1 Oct 2026

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Services

Montevideo

Electricity at the tariff

From January 2026: 6.744 pesos per kWh up to 100 kWh, 8.452 from 101 to 600, plus a fixed 324.9 pesos a month. For 300 kWh the tariff comes to about 2,900 pesos.

OfficialDecreto 339/025: UTE rates from 1 January 2026 · checked 28 Sep 2026

OSE water

OSE water from January 2026: up to 15 m³ at 36.91 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 327.5. For 15 m³ that comes to about 880 pesos a month. The municipality bills sewage separately.

OfficialDecree 340/025: OSE water and sewerage tariffs from 1 January 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Sewage (municipality)

The municipality, not OSE, bills sewage in Montevideo: a fixed charge of 80.76 pesos a month and 45.30 per m³ of water (2025 tariff). For 15 m³ that is about 760 pesos, billed every two months.

OfficialMontevideo city government: saneamiento (sewerage) tariff · checked 29 Sep 2026

Network gas

Montevideo Gas network gas, September 2026, including VAT: 48.55 pesos per m³ plus a fixed charge of 714.86 a month. Summer, 30 m³: about 2,170 pesos; winter, 100 m³: about 5,570.

OfficialMontevideo Gas: current tariff, September 2026, including VAT · checked 29 Sep 2026

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Playa del Carmen

CFE electricity on the coast

Tariff for hot regions 1B or 1C: 1.136 pesos per kWh in the base block, 1.381 in the intermediate, above that 4.041. For 300 kWh outside summer about 820–870 pesos with VAT.

SpecialistAiregula Solutions: CFE tariffs for September 2026, residential 1 and 1A-1F · checked 30 Sep 2026

Water and sewerage: Aguakan

Water is supplied by Aguakan. The minimum, per the press, is about 203 pesos a month, up to 298 with sewerage (figures for the state). We did not find the price per cubic metre above the minimum.

SpecialistEl Punto Sobre la i: reform of Quintana Roo's Ley de Cuotas y Tarifas de Agua Potable, minimum payment · checked 30 Sep 2026

LP gas: price cap

Price cap for liquefied LP gas (CNE) in Solidaridad for 27.09–3.10.2026: 21.62 pesos per kg, 11.67 per litre. A 20 kg cylinder at the cap is about 432 pesos.

OfficialComisión Nacional de Energía: maximum LP gas prices from 27 September to 3 October 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

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