Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mandeville or Playa del Carmen?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81Playa del Carmen $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $81. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mandeville and Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Playa del Carmen $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Playa del Carmen $80
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Playa del Carmen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Playa del Carmen $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Wedding Transfers Services in Round Trip Playa del Carmen: $180
- Transfers in Lincoln StretchLimo from Puerto Aventuras-Cun Airport.: $194
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Playa del Carmen from CUN: $173
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $109
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen and Mandeville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMandeville $24Playa del Carmen $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31Playa del Carmen $17
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- Tulum Ruins, Turtle Sightseeing & Underground Cenote from Tulum: $140
- VIP Cenote Scuba Tour, Certified Divers Only: $230
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $42
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour : $114
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $75
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $139
- ATV Ride and Secret Caves Tour from Playa del Carmen: $80
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $133
- ATV Shared, Cavern & Ziplines -Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $158
- ATV Xtreme & Snorkel Experience: $138
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Playa del Carmen $21
When comparing the travel costs between Mandeville and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Playa del Carmen is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Playa del Carmen, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen in the Summer?
Both Playa del Carmen and Mandeville during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the summer, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Playa del Carmen 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Playa del Carmen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Carmen during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Playa del Carmen 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Playa del Carmen. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Mandeville is a little warmer than Playa del Carmen in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the winter, Mandeville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Playa del Carmen 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?
Both Playa del Carmen and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Carmen during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmen. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Playa del Carmen 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Playa del Carmen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.