Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Playa del Carmen can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Playa del Carmen?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, 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 dayRecife $166Playa del Carmen $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, 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 Recife and Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Playa del Carmen $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Playa del Carmen $80
Compare Hotels in Recife and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Playa del Carmen $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Maroma Beach: Entry Ticket to Maroma Beach Club & Transfer: $47
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
- Private Transfer Airport-Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres 1-8 pax: $59
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Playa 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.Recife $11Playa del Carmen $17
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shopping Tour & Tulum Mayan Ruins: $11
- Cancun Airport: Bus Ticket to/from Playa del Carmen: $14
- Tulum Ruins: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Ek Balam: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2024: $20
- YAL-KÚ Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $23
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
- Ultramar Ferry, Regular round ticket, Playa del Carmen-Cozumel: $32
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $34
- Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to/from Cozumel: $35
- Mayan tour 4x1: Tulum, Cobá, Cenote & Playa del carmen: $35
- Tulum Ruins and Amusement Park Shared Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Playa del Carmen $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Playa del Carmen is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Playa del Carmen?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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 Recife or Playa del Carmen?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Recife is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Playa del Carmen has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Recife or Playa del Carmen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Playa del Carmen. Furthermore, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Recife is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Playa del Carmen during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun in the summer.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Playa del Carmenin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Playa del Carmen 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Playa del Carmen. Additionally, most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In April, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Carmenin October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmenin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Carmenin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Playa del Carmen 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Recife or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?
Both Playa del Carmen and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Recife is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Carmen during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmenin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Playa del Carmen 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Recife or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?
Both Playa del Carmen and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
In the spring, Recife is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 27°C (81°F)in April.
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Carmenin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Carmenin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Playa del Carmen 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Recife
| Recife | Playa del Carmen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.