How much does it cost to travel to Playa del Carmen?
You should plan to spend around $69 (MX$1,353) per day on your vacation in Playa del Carmen. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $20 (MX$393) on meals
- $20 (MX$398) on local transportation
- $67 (MX$1,315) on hotels
A one week trip to Playa del Carmen for two people costs, on average, $961 (MX$18,942). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Playa del Carmen has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Playa del Carmen expensive to visit?
Playa del Carmen is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Mexico, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Playa del Carmen is a very affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in North America for its affordability. Very few cities in the region are as affordable as Playa del Carmen.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Playa del Carmen?
The average Playa del Carmen trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Playa del Carmen travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
MX$1,315
($67)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
MX$398
($20)
|
|
Food 2
|
MX$393
($20)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
MX$284
($14)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
MX$175 -
526
($9 - 27)
|
Accommodation Budget in Playa del Carmen
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Playa del Carmen can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Playa del Carmen is $33 (MX$658). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Playa del Carmen is $67 (MX$1,315). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Playa del Carmen include:
- Newport House Playa Boutique Hotel starting at $47
- Maya Villa Condo Hotel and Beachclub starting at $125
- Riu Yucatan All Inclusive starting at $174
Transportation Budget in Playa del Carmen
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Playa del Carmen is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $20 (MX$398) per person, per day, on local transportation in Playa del Carmen.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$20
MX$398
A few of the typical transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen for $80 details
- One Way Private Transfer Playa del Carmen - Cancun Int Airport for $90 details
- Airport Transfer Playa del Carmen for $100 details
How much does it cost to go to Playa del Carmen? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Playa del Carmen will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Playa del Carmen
Calculated from travelers like you
If you want to experience the culture in Playa del Carmen, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Crazy walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen for $65 details
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour for $53 details
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen for $89 details
Entertainment Budget in Playa del Carmen
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Playa del Carmen typically cost an average of $14 (MX$284) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$14
MX$284
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Playa del Carmen. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Private Tour with 3 Cenotes + 5 Zip-lines + Mayan Lunch for $223 details
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef for $210 details
- Private tour to Coba Ruins and Swim in Cenote for $159 details
Alcohol Budget in Playa del Carmen
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $18 (MX$351) on alcoholic beverages in Playa del Carmen per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$18
MX$351
Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in Playa del Carmen. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue for $95 details
- Tulum Beer Tasting, Brewery Tour , Beer School & Transportation for $132 details
- Cenote and Artisanal Brewery Experience for $169 details
Playa del Carmen on a Budget
Play del Carmen, Mexico
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.
Playa del Carmen's temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year. Highs in the summer months can climb to the low 90s Fahrenheit and highs in the winter months are in the low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures in the summer months are in the mid to low 70s Fahrenheit and lows in the winter are in the mid 60s Fahrenheit. Rainfall peaks in the summer and early fall. This is also hurricane season.
Sights
Most people come to Playa del Carmen specifically for the beach. There are variety of outdoor parks and reserves in the area that are worth a visit as well. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is about an hour from town and is one of the biggest protected areas in Mexico. This is a great place to go for bird watching or snorkeling.
Rio Lagartos is another Special Biosphere Reserve. It's on the north side of the Yucatan peninsula and typically requires an overnight stay.
Neighborhoods
Tourism in Playa del Carmen is centered around Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue). This is a pedestrian street that travels from Calle 1 norte to Calle 40. It's lined with many shops, bars and restaurants. You'll find boutique hotels and interesting dining opportunities nearby as well.
Playacar is a residential, tourist development within Playa del Carmen to the south of the urban core. This where you'll you'll find most of the town's all-inclusive hotels as well as an aviary and a golf course. The development began in 1979.
Activities
There are many opportunities for you to enjoy adventure sports and outdoor activities in the area. One popular option is charter fishing. You can easily find a simple boat to take you deep sea fishing, but do realize that many of these boats are unlicensed and will offer you little more than the bare essentials. It's better to inquire around and find a professional charter fishing company that can take you out.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are also popular activities in the area. The reefs are only accessible by boat, but it is the second largest coral reef system in the world. Dive shops are ubiquitous and it is easy to arrange a trip. If you're traveling to the area specifically to go scuba diving, consider visiting Cozumel instead. The diving there is generally better.
Other popular activities in the area include kayaking, and swimming. There are also beach clubs that line the coastline and are popular with the tourists. Playa del Carmen's nightlife is superb, but still more tame than Cancun. Popular clubs include Blue Parrot, El Pirata, Coco Bongo, Santenera, and Hotel Deseo.
Food and Dining
You'll find almost 75 restaurants around town of varying price. Your cheapest eating options are the pizza stands that are near the beach. In the evening there are many types of excellent Mexican street food which are also an excellent option. Definitely make a point of trying a seafood taco, which is a local specialty and easily one of the best options available. Mid range restaurants usually offer a nice sit down meal that includes seafood, tacos, or other local options. Lunch is a particularly good time to enjoy the restaurants as their atmosphere is laid back, relaxed, and affordable.
Transportation
The main town is laid out in a simple grid, making navigation easy and straight forward. You can easily walk most places, but if you're hoping to explore the outlying areas then renting a car is your best option. There are several reputable car rental companies around town. There's also a decent bus system that will take you to popular destinations around the region. Some people also decide to arrange an organized bus tour which is an easy and convenient way to explore the area. You can ask at your hotel and they can likely refer you to a reputable company.
Taxis can be caught along many intersections on Fifth Avenue. There is a set table of prices, but drivers rarely offer those prices. You should know in advance how much a trip should cost and negotiate accordingly.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.