Can you mix work and play? If yes, then PDC is for you! | Playa del Carmen Digital Nomad Guide

This Playa del Carmen digital nomad guide was written by Cristal Dyer, an Australian expat whoโ€™s been living in Playa del Carmen for years.

Hi Trisha, I love all your Mexico tips. It gives a lot of clear information and your voice is super clear. Muchas gracias! Hehe. I am thinking of moving to Quintana Roo. What is your advice? Whatโ€™s it like to be a Playa del Carmen digital nomad? I am worried about Internet because I can lose my job if I donโ€™t find the right destination in Mexico to base myself. Thank you for all your tips and I wish you all the best. I also just followed you on Youtube and love all your living abroad content.

โ€“ Jeff McCormack, USA
playa del carmen digital nomad

Hey Jeff,

Thank you for reaching out and reading the blog. Glad you made it to my Youtube channel, too! Iโ€™ve been to Playa del Carmen once but I am going to visit again this April. Luckily, I have friends with whom I can ask for help and advice.

Iโ€™d like to introduce you to Cristal of Tofu Traveler. Sheโ€™s been living in Playa del Carmen as a digital nomad and sheโ€™s agreed to give all her tips in this post! Cristal is an authority and a credible source on everything about Playa so ask away!

If you have any questions that werenโ€™t answered in this post, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram!

Good luck! Iโ€™m now giving the floor to Cristal!

Xx,
Trisha

๐Ÿ’จ Need help moving to Mexico?

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๐Ÿ™‹ Is Playa del Carmen good for digital nomads?

Playa del Carmen has an ideal balance of natural sights to explore, a lively party scene, and all the essentials that make digital nomad life a breeze.

Smack bang in the middle of resort-heavy Cancun and Tulum, the jungle rave and boho capital, Playa is an interesting blend of the two.

Also known as just โ€˜Playaโ€™ by the locals, this quirky beach city that Iโ€™ve called home for the last three years isnโ€™t everyoneโ€™s cup of tea but Iโ€™ve certainly grown to love it.

Iโ€™ve traveled all around Mexico and while there are many places that I enjoy for a visit, Playa is to me, one of the most pleasant cities to live in.

Iโ€™ve been a digital nomad for seven years and started off spending two or three months in each city I visited getting a taste for life in different corners of the world.

Figuring out how to make a sustainable income while also getting a chance to explore each new destination proved to be too tough and my blog, Tofu Traveler, suffered.

Settling in Mexico gave me the best of both worlds with the ability to really focus on my business while using Playa as a base to travel the world.

๐Ÿ” Protect your online privacy: Get NordVPN

๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿพ Living in Playa del Carmen as a digital nomad

When I decided to settle in Mexico as a digital nomad, my first choice was Oaxaca City, more in the center of Mexico. I was attracted to the culture there but, in the end, wasnโ€™t happy with the digital nomad community.

I came to Playa soon after for a little holiday and although Iโ€™d been here several times over the last 12 years, I finally started to see why someone would actually want to stay here.

Youโ€™ve got a huge diversity of people, a bustling nightlife, postcard-worthy beaches, and modern amenities not usually found in such a small city.

playa del carmen digital nomad
Follow Cristal on Instagram: @tofutraveler

Here are some of the top reasons that I consider Playa del Carmen a great place for digital nomads:

  • Itโ€™s a very walkable city and you can get from one end of downtown to the other in half an hour
  • Riding bikes is also popular with some bike lanes and a city bike scheme available
    If youโ€™re in Centro Playa youโ€™re never more than 15 minutes walk from a beach
  • Easy access by air to destinations around the US, Latin America and Europe and the airport is just a 45-minute drive away
  • Convenient facilities like Walmart, Costco, and Samโ€™s Club nearby
  • Local eats are everywhere like tacos, grilled corn, empanadas, and things you havenโ€™t heard of yet but will fall in love with
  • Health nuts will be happy with lots of juice bars, salad cafes, and tons of vegan options
  • Itโ€™s very close to many stunning natural attractions like cenotes and ruins and classic Mexican towns

Playa is an eclectic city going through a rapid transition. What was very recently a small fishing village nobody knew about to the south of spring break central in Cancun has developed into a fully-fledged city in its own right.

Saying that, one thing you wonโ€™t find a lot of here is culture. Playa is more of a mix of Mexicans from around the country whoโ€™ve come for a better life on the sunny shores of the Caribbean.

Playaโ€™s still figuring out its identity as a city and while there are some cultural events every so often, it definitely doesnโ€™t compete with other less touristy areas around Mexico.

The best solution for those craving a bit more of an authentic experience is to explore the surrounding areas for day trips and long weekends.

Thereโ€™s a lot to see within a couple of hours drive of Playa and the Yucatan Peninsula has enough to explore to keep you occupied for months.

๐Ÿš‘ Digital nomad insurance: Check out SafetyWing for as low as $40 USD per month

๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿฟโ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿป The digital nomad scene in Playa del Carmen

What used to be an equal balance of digital nomads, retirees, and expats, has become a booming scene for remote workers and digital nomads worldwide.

Due to the diversity of the people living here, youโ€™ll find all sorts wandering around town, and one of my favorite things about Playa is that you can find your tribe no matter what youโ€™re looking for.

Travelers looking to be close to all the action and be part of a busy social scene tend to stick to the center where you can easily step out of your house and be at a beach, bar, or restaurant within a ten-minute walk.

Families looking for a greater sense of community and safety can choose from one of the gated communities including Playacar and Mayakoba. Those keen to get more of an authentic local experience can live in areas like Colosio and Ejidal.

playa del carmen digital nomad
Cristal has been traveling solo for a long-time now but she found her tribe in Playa del Carmen!

The best way to meet people here is through Facebook and WhatsApp groups. Here are a few recommendations for Playaโ€™s best Facebook groups:

Iโ€™d suggest once youโ€™ve arrived, jump on to a Facebook group, introduce yourself, including your hobbies and interests and ask for any suggestions of WhatsApp groups to join.

There are groups for almost everything including organizing on-the-fly meetups, volleyball lovers, and even a group to swap and sell products.

๐Ÿ“ถ  Internet speed in Playa del Carmen

Playa is known for having decent internet, especially compared to its bohemian sister city in the south, Tulum.

It canโ€™t quite compete with cities that have a fiber connection so if you need to work on large files or spend the day taking video calls, youโ€™ll want to make sure you always have a backup option.

A portable WiFi device is a good idea, but many digital nomads in Playa seem to get along fine with using their phone connection as a Plan B if the WiFi is playing up.

digital nomad playa del carmen
Average internet speed in Playa del Carmen: 16 MBPS (fair)

SIM cards are very easy to find once youโ€™re in Playa but a bit of pain to get right out of the airport. You can pick one up at any OXXO, Mexicoโ€™s main convenience store.

One of the most popular carriers is Telcel as it has good coverage and itโ€™s easy to top up packages. Youโ€™ll likely get phone minutes, text messages, calls, and data all bundled together with free use of social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp, an essential here in Mexico.

๐Ÿ’ต  Cost of living in Playa del Carmen

Compared to its neighbor in the south, Tulum, Playa is fairly affordable. You can live comfortably on $1,000 per month and if youโ€™re willing to cut a few corners, $500 is certainly doable.

Accommodation-wise, prices do vary widely. Paying month by month for your accommodation costs more than signing a lease for six months, and renting directly from a local is cheaper than finding your place through vacation sites.

digital nomad playa del carmen mexico
During her free time, Cristal enjoys traveling around the state of Quintana Roo.

For reference, Iโ€™ve got a modern one-bedroom apartment with a rooftop pool in the center a few blocks from the beach and pay $600 per month. That includes all bills except for electricity, which is around $10 per month with light usage.

I have a friend who pays $200 for a cute little local studio in the center and a friend who is forking out $1,400 for a lush apartment one block from the beach. You can find something to fit any budget but it might take a bit of searching first.

Food is another category that you can spend a lot or a little on. Street food like tacos and tamales cost around $1 each, while a meal at my favorite vegan restaurant is $6 with a drink. Eating out on Fifth Avenue can be fun but it usually carries a weighty price tag closer to $15.

In general, I eat out for most meals and wouldnโ€™t expect to spend over $12 unless it was a really nice place. If youโ€™re cooking your own meals, that will cut costs even further as produce and domestic ingredients are affordable.

Transportation is all but unnecessary unless you live outside of the center, especially if you invest in a bike to get around. Taxis to most parts of the city are around $2 and you can get public transport for a fraction of the cost.

๐Ÿ‘Œ If you want to learn how to haggle with rent and deal with landlords, learn Spanish before going to Mexico!

๐Ÿ›‚ Mexico visa for digital nomads

One of the biggest draws for digital nomads is Mexicoโ€™s 180-day tourist card. Many travelers can arrive in Mexico without much planning and get six months with no fuss at all.

Once your time runs out, you can leave the country for a couple of days and get another 6 months on your return to Mexico. Not many countries are that relaxed!

While you can technically do this over and over (and I have many times over the last few years), itโ€™s a bit of a grey area when it comes to immigration.

digital nomad playa del carmen quintana roo
Did you know that Mexico has the most cenotes in the world? There are lots near Playa!

Several visits in a row could raise some red flags and invite additional questions about the purpose of your visit to Mexico.

You do take on risks, but in my experience, if youโ€™re doing the right thing, are prepared on entry to show a flight out, and are not bragging about living in Mexico illegally (sounds silly, but itโ€™s happened once) then 99% of the time, you should be fine.

If youโ€™re planning a longer stay or just want to avoid the hassle of leaving and coming back every six months, you can apply for a Mexico temporary residency visa.

You can start the process at the Mexican consulate in your home country or one thatโ€™s closest to you wherever you are in the world.

๐Ÿ›‚ Need residency visa help for Mexico? Get in touch with a Mexican lawyer!

โ˜• Cafes with strong wifi

Playa has its fair share of cute little cafes with decent WiFi. Whatโ€™s tough is finding somewhere thatโ€™s big enough that wonโ€™t mind you taking up space and that has an indoor section so you can get out of the heat of the day.

All the below options are tried and tested digital nomad spots that will keep you cool, have strong WiFi, comfortable seating and good food and coffee.

Marley Coffee

One of my favorite options when you want a good strong coffee, WiFi that doesnโ€™t mess around, and cold AC. It also helps that Marley is located in the Fives Hotel so you get to use some of the nicest facilities in town when you canโ€™t hold it in any longer.

There are some comfy seats spread around and a good amount of outlets for such a small cafe. Plus the staff are friendly and happy for you to spend hours here as long as you buy something.

Get directions to Marley Cafe ยป

Ah Cacao

A Playa staple, Ah Cacao has a handful of locations all around the city that can work in a pinch but for a comfy spot where you can spend the whole day, the cafe on Fifth Avenue and 38th Street is my pick.

Thereโ€™s a quieter seating area upstairs where youโ€™ll find others typing away at their laptop or you can do some people-watching if the weather is nice outside on the terrace.

Ah Cacao is all about chocolate and coffee so you will find a consistently great cup here and lots of sweet treats to sample. The only downside is that they donโ€™t have a ton of savory food options.

Get directions to Ah Cacao ยป

Choux Choux

Another staple in the Playa Del Carmen digital nomad scene, Choux Choux is a French cafe thatโ€™s worth a visit just for the food.

While it can get very busy some days, the staff are more than happy for you to set up shop for a few hours. Savory and sweet options abound and you can munch on a flakey almond croissant or indulge in a full breakfast for $5-$12.

While they open early (which is a huge plus for us early birds), they close at 3 pm every day so keep that in mind when planning your day. The other downside is it can get downright noisy here. Buskers come in regularly and perform for tips so you wouldnโ€™t want to be attempting a call with a full-on mariachi band singing in the background.

Get directions to Choux Choux ยป

digital nomad playa del carmen
Cristal is vegan! In her blog, she shares that Playa del Carmen is a vegan paradise.

Basic Foodie

This is a cute new addition to the center with a solid menu, good WiFi and a great location with both a cool inside area with large shared tables and a shaded courtyard.

You can grab a coffee or smoothie and a pastry as a snack or go all out with brunch options that will keep you going all day for $7-$10.

Basic Foodie is also one of my top picks for best restaurants in Playa del Carmen for vegans because you can find both savory and sweet options plus they use organic, Mexican produce without all the nasty stuff.

Get directions to Basic Foodie ยป

Bajo Cafe

A local favorite, this cafe is one of a collective found in a comfortable space far off the tourist strip. Itโ€™s a smaller space so you might have to share occasionally but the friendly vibe and good eats more than makes up for any inconvenience.

It feels like a cozy little neighborhood cafe where you could spend your days writing your latest novel or getting a group together to chat about business ideas.

Get directions to Bajo Cafe ยป

Thompson Hotel

For a more bougie option with a view, check out either of the Thompson Hotel locations downtown. One is a rooftop with stunning views over the ocean and the other is right on the beach.

Theyโ€™re used to digital nomads setting up for the day and do have a few shady spots where you can keep out of the sun but the downside is, spots with a plug are limited so come with a full charge just in case.

Get directions to Thompson Hotel ยป

๐Ÿ’ป  Playa del Carmen coworking spaces

Playaโ€™s co-working spaces are spread around the downtown area with a couple located across the highway. There are savings to be had if youโ€™re willing to travel further away so it could be worth looking into those options if youโ€™re willing to travel 10 minutes or so by car or take a ride over on your bike.

Nest

Central and popular, Nest is known for its strong community spirit and regular networking events. Thereโ€™s a lot of room to spread out with a quiet space, meeting rooms and even a hammock area when you want to have a mid-afternoon siesta.

playa del carmen digital nomad
Nest, Playa del Carmen.

Nestโ€™s biggest strength is its regular community activities and events for special occasions. Shared office day passes cost about $13, and monthly passes are about $180.

Get directions to Nest ยป

Bunker

Bunker is a small but popular option in the center that treats its coworkers more like a family. I always thought Bunker seemed more of a serious place to work with less socializing during the day but they make up for it once everyone clocks off.

Theyโ€™ve even been known to go on trips away together, which shows what a great community they have.

One of the biggest drawcards with Bunker is that youโ€™ll get 24-hour access so if you work odd hours, this is the spot for you. Shared office day passes cost about $13, and monthly passes are about $160.

Get directions to Bunker ยป

Selina Playa del Carmen

A well-known brand in Latin America, Selina offers both co-work and co-live packages. Youโ€™ll be in a prime location right on Fifth Avenue and have access to a pool to cool down in.

All the basic amenities are included like meeting rooms, phone booths and a common kitchen with a nice twist on the standard co-working space.

Shared office day passes cost about $10, and monthly passes are about $145.

Get directions to Selina Playa del Carmen ยป

๐Ÿ  How to find apartments in Playa del Carmen

When youโ€™re ready to find a place to live, my top tip is to book on Vrbo for a few nights while you look at your options. Never hand over large sums of money before youโ€™ve gotten to Playa and actually seen the property.

You can post in one of the Facebook groups like Rentas y Roomies or Rentals and Sales with your requirements and have real estate agents come to you or hit the streets looking out for โ€˜Se Rentaโ€™ signs in neighborhoods you like and contact the property directly.

playa del carmen digital nomad

If youโ€™re planning to stay for up to a month, your best option is to book something on Airbnb as short-term rentals are not that common here.

You might also have some luck getting a sub-let through one of the expat Facebook groups but youโ€™ll likely have to be flexible with your dates.

The best thing to do when you arrive PDC is to book a short-term accommodation and get a feel of the place first. This will also give you a chance to gather insider tips from locals.

๐Ÿ  Where to find housing: Check out these apartments in Playa del Carmen for digital nomads!

โ‰๏ธ FAQ: Playa del Carmen Digital Nomad

Digital nomads in Playa del Carmen often reside in areas such as Playacar, Centro, and Zazil Ha, known for their safety, amenities, and proximity to the beach. They commonly choose apartments, condos, and co-living spaces that offer strong Wi-Fi and a conducive work environment.

Yes, Playa del Carmen generally offers reliable high-speed internet, an essential feature for digital nomads and remote workers. Many hotels, co-living/co-working spaces, restaurants, and cafes provide free Wi-Fi.

Some nomads opt for local SIM cards with data plans or portable Wi-Fi devices for a more stable connection. Internet service providers also offer fixed broadband services for residential use, with speeds up to 100 Mbps or more.

The cost of living in Playa del Carmen can vary greatly based on lifestyle and personal preferences. While itโ€™s more affordable than many cities in North America and Europe, it is one of the more expensive places in Mexico.

A single personโ€™s monthly costs without rent could be around $500-700 USD, while a one-bedroom apartment in the city center could cost about $500-800 USD per month.

Yes, foreigners can buy property in Playa del Carmen, and Mexico, but some restrictions exist. Property within 50 km of the coastline or 100 km of international borders falls into the โ€œRestricted Zoneโ€.

Foreigners can purchase property in this zone through a bank trust (Fideicomiso) or a Mexican corporation. Elsewhere, foreigners can directly own property. Itโ€™s advisable to consult with a real estate attorney for the process.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Playa del Carmen is around $500-$800 USD per month. Outside the city center, the rent could drop to around $300-$500.

For larger three-bedroom apartments, you could expect to pay between $900-$1500 in the city center and $600-$900 outside. Please note, these figures may have changed as rental prices can fluctify due to numerous factors.

The best time to visit Playa del Carmen, for good weather, warm temperatures, and less rainfall is during the dry season, which typically runs from December to April.

January to March is considered peak tourist months with the most ideal weather. However, if youโ€™re looking to avoid crowds while still enjoying pleasant weather, the shoulder months of November, early December, and late April can be great choices.

๐ŸŒ Digital Nomad Resources

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