Playa Del Carmen Apartments

…one of the cheapest and most convenient ways to park yourself in paradise…

Playa Del Carmen Apartments Summary – What You Will Learn On This Page

Here is a brief summary of what you will find on this page:

  • How to figure out what kind of Playa Del Carmen apartment you can afford
  • The four most important apartment characteristics that determine apartment price – (location, size, amenities, furnished/unfurnished)
  • A map with the best areas in the city to rent an apartment
  • The Playa Del Carmen neighborhoods that you should absolutely avoid
  • The fool-proof, step-by-step process that will land you a good apartment
  • Why Playa Del Carmen apartment contracts are nearly worthless
  • Why you are going to want to work with an honest person
  • Who is the most honest person I’ve met here who can help you get an apartment
  • How to contact her

If you want to work with the most honest person in the city, fill out the contact form below. Your name and contact info will be sent to Maricarmen, the only person that I personally know and trust here in Playa Del Carmen.

CONTACT MARICARMEN – THE ONLY HONEST APARTMENT RENTAL EXPERT IN THE CITY

Here is some information about Maricarmen:

  • Maricarmen is originally from Acapulco, but has lived in Playa Del Carmen since 2011
  • She manages several apartment buildings in Playa Del Carmen
  • She is fluent in both English and Spanish
  • Maricarmen is also a certified real estate agent (most real estate workers are not yet certified as of late 2018)
  • Maricarmen is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce
  • Most importantly, I have dealt with Maricarmen on many occasions and can testify that she is 100% honest (an EXTREMELY important characteristic when you involve money and a foreign country)

Maricarmen manages both of the apartment locations shown on the map below:

Here is a description of both of the apartment options. You can let her know which you are interested in.

OPTION #1 – DOWNTOWN APARTMENTS

PRICE:

  • 1-bedroom: 9,500-10,500 MXN per/month (~$500-$575 USD*)
  • 2-bedroom: 14,000-16,000 MXN per/month (~$725-$825 USD*)

*BASED ON CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE OF $1 USD = 18 MXN. THIS FLUCTUATES DAILY.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

  • Fully furnished (bed, couch, stove, refrigerator, table, microwave, etc…)
  • Hot Water
  • Gas
  • WiFi / Internet
  • AC (must pay your own bill)
  • Housecleaning (1 cleaning every two weeks)

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

  • Electricity

These apartments are great because of the ultra-convenient location. Imagine this:

  • 4.5 blocks from the beach
  • 1.5 block from Walmart
  • 1.5 blocks from Municipal Palace
  • Within walking distance of 100’s of restaurants, shops, places to see
  • In the heart of the bustling tourist area of Playa Del Carmen
  • Close proximity to EVERYTHING!!!!

OPTION #2 – APARTMENTS ON NORTH-EAST SIDE OF HIGHWAY

PRICE:

  • 1-bedroom: 7000 MXN per/month (~480 USD*)

*BASED ON CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE OF $1 USD = 18 MXN. THIS FLUCTUATES DAILY.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

  • Fully furnished (bed, couch, stove, refridgerator, table, microwave, etc…)
  • Hot Water
  • Gas
  • WiFi / Internet
  • AC (must pay your own bill)

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

  • Electricity

These apartments offer the best of both worlds. Imagine this:

  • Safe neighborhood
  • Short 10-minute bike ride to beach/tourist area
  • 4 blocks from Plaza Las Americas (a large shopping mall with shopping/movie theater/grocery store/etc)
  • Close to city theater and cultural center of Playa Del Carmen
  • 14 blocks from the beach
  • Get to know the real, modern Mexico!!!

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW. ALL INFORMATION ENTERED IS AUTOMATICALLY FORWARDED TO MARICARMEN. SHE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP.

    NOTE: This page does not bullsh*t, lie, play “can’t we all just get along” games, or try to make lemonade from lemons (without sugar).

    It simply tells the truth – without heed or homage to those who want to magically cleanse the reality of finding an apartment in Playa Del Carmen and supplant it with the vanity of political correctness.

    Here I am going to tell you the best places to live.

    I am also going to tell you the places that you should NOT live.

    As you may have already found out, there are a number of half-witted articles out there showing apartments that were rented several years ago for $200-$300/ month.

    These articles were usually written by utopian-centric “travel bloggers” trying to sell books/courses that teach students how great it is to live on a few dollars a day.

    They casually mislead readers by omitting important information (it was in a crap neighborhood, they had several roommates, they were sweating profusely every night without A/C, etc…)

    The authors of these posts exuberantly embellish their experience and put incredible amounts of energy into trying to convince readers that every single square inch of this city is perfect.

    Any reasonable person knows that this is false.

    Every inexpensive tourist destination in the world hosts an economically underprivileged class.

    These are the workers who provide the “inexpensive” part of the equation.

    This city is no exception.

    Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

    When these people write about Playa Del Carmen apartments for rent, they usually show interiors of apartments (that appear visually appealing).

    Not surprisingly, these same people refuse to show the exterior of their apartment, and are even more adamantly against showing the neighborhood it resides in (which likely lacks all sense of beauty, order, and civility).

    I’m not one of those people.

    That’s the reason I created a “Best Apartment Area” map on this page with adequate descriptions that will guide you in the right direction.

    The apartments in sketchy neighborhoods are almost invariably located outside of the “Best Apartment Area” as shown in the map below.

    Use the map as a guideline, and not a hard and fast rulebook.

    With that said……and on a lighter note…….

    Congratulations! You’ve Decided To Rent A Playa Del Carmen Apartment

    Now you just have to hope that I don’t walk past drunk at 4am and ring the buzzer thinking your apartment is my own.

    I’ve lived in a few Playa Del Carmen apartments.

    When I lived in the first one, my roommate moved out after I kept sneaking into his room to steal his premium tequila at 5am.

    In the second apartment, I had a swimming pool and huge balcony–as well as a nasty visit from the landlord’s heavies after I didn’t pay the rent for three months.

    But the third is just perfect.

    Big enough to impress the very occasional women who dare to enter; small enough to be affordable.

    And it’s in my favorite Playa Del Carmen neighborhood.

    Finding an apartment here is extremely easy.

    Finding a safe, affordable, and good value Playa Del Carmen apartment is more of a challenge.

    If you are hell bent on living here (believe me, I know how this feels), you will find a way to make it happen.

    I did, and I’m sure I am more of a goof up than you.

    But to make things easier for you, I’ve created this page that is loaded with apartment search suggestions and includes an idiot-proof, step-by-step guide to finding a reasonably priced apartment here.

    Playa Del Carmen Apartments – What Can You Afford?

    Before looking for an apartment, you have to be realistic about what you can spend.

    Everybody wants the balcony overlooking the beach, arm-length proximity to 5th Ave, and a massive private swimming pool on the terrace.

    But most of those people don’t understand the symbiotic relationship between location, size, and amenities.

    Here you’re going to learn about those.

    For now, save all the fancy stuff for the hotels.

    Get to know Playa Del Carmen before making any rash decisions.

    When it’s all said and done, the cost of an apartment really depends on four independent things:

    1. Location – The cost of a Playa Del Carmen apartment is mainly dependent on location. The nearer to 5th Ave and the beach then the higher the cost–and gated communities like Playacar also have huge prices.
    2. Size – The second consideration is the size. A bigger Playa Del Carmen apartment equals more $$$.
    3. Amenities – The third is amenities. But be realistic about this. Will you really use a swimming pool or exercise facilities when you’re so close to the beach?
    4. Furnished / Unfurnished – Finally consider whether you need a furnished apartment. Furnished apartments are more expensive, but they save you time and money when you have to move.

    So look at what you realistically want to spend on rent.

    Then consider the above and think about what is most important.

    Some people sacrifice size for the 5th Ave location.

    Others won’t mind being away from it all if they get a bigger place.

    Best Areas For Apartments

    The following map shows the best areas for apartments.

    The map was based on duel criteria:

    • 100% Safe – The neighborhoods in the map had to be 100% safe. That means you can walk around 24/7 without feeling unsafe, you can come home and leave whenever you want, and there is a heavy police/private security presence in the area.
    • Reasonably Located – The apartments in the “Best Apartment Area” had to be reasonably located and close to the action.

    Although sizes, prices, and amenities vary dramatically, you will be in walking or biking distance of all the hotspots if you stay within the area shown on the map.

    If you deviate far from this, caveat emptor (buyer beware) and rent at your own risk.

    However, the areas in this map are all 100% safe and conveniently located.

    Moreover, you can find some really good deals if you spend some time looking, talking to a variety of people, and asking the right questions.

    Decide Which Neighborhood You Want Your Playa Del Carmen Apartment In

    Playa Del Carmen is generally safe, and there are only a few distinct places I would strongly caution you against living.

    The neighborhoods that are reasonable to live in are centrally located. The neighborhoods that I would not recommend are outside the popular tourist areas. Here they are:

    BAD NEIGHBORHOODS

    • Colosio – This area is quite notorious. Anything north of 46th St. gets increasingly messy the further north you go. Is it all bad? No. However, in the far north, it is downright dirty – think garbage on the streets and houses without windows (around 70th street and further).
      • DON’T CONFUSE THE STREETS AND AVENUES HERE. I am talking about this problem beginning north of 46th STREET. If you reach 46th St., you will not believe what you’re reading here. However, if you make it to 115 Street – and I can guarantee that most of you will not – you will believe every word on this page and profusely thank me for writing it! Although some people claim this area is perfectly fine, they are doing nothing more than trying to be politically correct. If you are from a developed country, this entire area is going to be quite depressing for you.
    • Villas Del SolThis neighborhood, far away from the beach, downtown, and the civilized world has been featured in local newspapers multiple times.
      • It has earned the title of “the neighborhood more dangerous than Colosio” and proudly boasts of having the largest number of police calls originating from it. It is virtually 100% Mexican. And they’re not the friendly ones who are smart enough to capitalize on the social-economic benefits that come from the collective tourism industry. They are the type of Mexicans who are very poor, don’t understand why they are so poor, vehemently hate tourists, despise anything foreign, and listen to the OOM PAH, OOM PAH, OOM PAH music over and over. The sight of tourists makes them feel inferior, so they simply want tourists to go away so they can go back to living in jungle tepees (like they did before the tourists came).
    • Anything west (non-beachside) of 30th Avenue – This is 30th AVENUE! I was reluctant to write this here because you will be perfectly fine in many of the areas all the way up to 50th Ave (where the main freeway crosses through town).
      • However, when I was looking for apartments here, 30th Avenue was my personal cutoff point. If you find a great deal on an apartment near 45th Ave or 50th Ave, you will likely be okay – depending on the exact location. From 30th to 50th Ave, it’s only a little bit dirty (again, Mexicans throwing trash on the streets). Beyond 70th Ave, it gets downright nasty. This is not to say it is always dangerous, but it definitely lacks any sort of cosmetics that you are probably familiar with if you come from a NON-third-world country or were enchanted by the photographs of Playa Del Carmen before deciding to move here.
      • Mexican people love throwing their trash on the streets. Apparently they have never heard of trash receptacles. You will start to see that in these neighborhoods. If that’s your thing – fine. But I find the sheer amount of street litter in the Mexican neighborhoods quite offensive.

    GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS

    • See the map above for the safest and most convenient areas of Playa Del Carmen
    • There are also many other private, gated communities north of downtown, but they fall short when it comes to convenience; you definitely need a car or motorcycle to conveniently live in most of them. Consequently, I am not considering them for that reason.

    The FAILPROOF, STEP-BY-STEP Process to Find A Cheap Apartment In Playa Del Carmen

    This is obviously the hard part – but also the most exciting.

    Finding a good apartment can take time, but it’s worth taking your time.

    It’s easy to jump at the first one you see on the internet, but if you spend a week looking, I guarantee you will be able to find what you’re looking for.

    Here’s the basic process for finding a good apartment:

    • Rent a bike or scooter and spend several days cruising around the city getting to know the neighborhoods and general layout.
    • Turn your GPS on and begin taking photos of “For Rent/Se Renta” signs outside of the buildings that look nice to you. I see many people with pen and paper writing phone numbers down as they walk or drive around. Don’t do it. You’ll be much better off with your smartphone’s camera and GPS. Plus the photos will help jog your memory.
    • Visit these two websites and do broad searches for apartments in the area. Write down the phone numbers that you find and save the link or bookmark every page that lists the apartments you like:
    • Download and install WhatsApp on your smartphone. Everyone uses it here and will expect you to use it, too.
    • Begin contacting apartments via the numbers from the pictures you took. Start to get a feel for prices, neighborhood averages, what’s included, etc…
    • After you’ve gotten a feel for the prices, amenities, and locations that you like, write down your absolute limits. This will include the following:
      • Maximum price
      • Neighborhood(s) you find appealing
      • Necessary bedrooms
      • Necessary amenities (AC, swimming pool, gated entrance, allows pets, whatever….)
    • Begin calling ALL numbers from photos and begin calling ALL numbers from VivaNuncios and Andale (links above). Use WhatsApp to contact them, too. Also, send a template-based email to ALL listings that provide email addresses.
    • Begin meeting apartment owner/managers until you find a good match

    Beware – many Playa Del Carmen apartment owners do not speak English. You must be either confident in your Spanish or take someone with you who speaks excellent Spanish.

    Either way, and even if you do speak a little Spanish, see if you can get a local to help you.

    As I have mentioned several times throughout this website, nearly all Mexicans believe that foreigners are rich and that they should pay more than Mexicans.

    This is thoroughly institutionalized and not just for apartments (hospitals maintain “foreigners pay more” policies, ferry companies give discounts to Mexicans, the parks like Tulum give discounts to Mexicans, bars have “local’s rates,” etc…).

    Although this would be considered discrimination in the US, it is perfectly acceptable here.

    To make it clear, Mexicans will ALMOST CERTAINLY try to take advantage of you if they can.

    Yes, a lot of them are pretty filthy that way.

    And worse, they have absolutely no shame about it–none, whatsoever.

    Consequently, you are more likely to get quoted a better price if they believe that you are a Spanish-speaking Mexican than a foreigner.

    Interestingly, if you’re on the phone with an high-end, upscale apartment, speaking Spanish might hurt you; many apartment owners don’t want Mexicans as tenants. They want to rent to wealthy foreigners so that they can charge higher-than-normal rental rates.

    Don’t overthink it. Let common sense prevail, and you’ll be fine.

    Check Out Some Playa Del Carmen Apartments

    Now that you’ve contacted a few apartment owners, you’re close to making a decision.

    While it might not always be possible, I strongly advise visiting the apartment before signing any contract.

    Also, do not trust Google Street View; the pictures are invariably out-dated for this city because it is growing so fast.

    • When you visit, you can check the standard things (e.g. “Does it look like the photos?” “Is the neighbor’s dog mental?” “Does it have hot water?” “Is the bedroom window overlooking a dump site?”)
    • It’s also good to talk to the neighbors.
      • Firstly to find out what they’re like–you don’t want to be surrounded by Mexican grannies if all you want to do is party until 7am.
      • But also to ask them how much they pay, and look at whether you’re getting a reasonable price. (I could tell you some interesting stories about what happens if you don’t do this.)

    Sign The Contract And Become A Playa Del Carmen Resident

    Now comes the serious part.

    • Bring a camera with you and take photos of the apartment AND be sure to email them to both yourself and a 3rd party. This way you have a dated record of what the apartment looked like when you moved in. Make sure that any damage is already recorded and any work the owner needs to do is written into the contract.
    • Don’t feel pressured into signing– ever.
    • Getting bad vibes from the neighbors, landlord, etc.? – call it off and don’t sign.
    • Outside of your budget? – again, don’t sign.
    • Understand the meaning of the contract – what’s included, what’s not, how much of a deposit you have to pay, etc. – before signing. Most owners will ask for a 6 to 12 month contract as well as a deposit of 1 month’s rent.
    • If possible, take a local with you when signing the contract – People are usually better judges of character within their own culture/language and can give you some expert insight that you may miss.
    • Finally, make sure the owner is actually the real owner. This is easily done by talking to the neighbors.

    Obviously, you may not be able to take all of these steps, but the more you can take, the better!

    NOTE: I met a beautiful Australian woman at one of the local hostels near my own apartment. She had paid a cash deposit to someone who she thought was the apartment manager/owner. It turned out that the person was a fraud and took off with around $500 USD of her money! Interestingly, she had just started working at one of the local universities as a professor.

    My point? Don’t think that your status – teacher, lawyer, accountant, woman, man, hot, ugly, friendly, good negotiator, etc. – is going to save your ass! It won’t!

    “Mexican hospitality” is an oxymoron. Truly, it is. Also, the fraudsters here are ruthless and cunning. The serious and intelligent conmen are few and far between (luckily), but ignorant, petty thieves and 3rd-rate hustlers abound here.

    But before you sign the contract, let me tell you…..

    The Truth About Apartment Contracts In Mexico

    Mexico is neither known for order nor consistency, but is infamous for corruption.

    Mexico is also considered a difficult country to do business in (ranking between 38th and 58th in the world).

    There is one big reason for this:

    • The unenforceability of contracts

    In the Mexican city that I lived prior to coming to Playa Del Carmen, there was a huge problem with abandoned/vacant homes.

    Sometimes you could walk down a city block and see that 1/3 of the houses were completely empty – built and ready for occupants, but empty.

    This was because many of the homeowners were living in the United States. They would work in the US, send money to Mexico, and simultaneously build a house that they would live in when they returned there from the States.

    If you talk to an American or Canadian in a similar situation, they would say, “Rent the house to someone while away. The renter will pay the mortgage, and you’ll have a debt-free home when you return.”

    Of course, in the US or Canada this makes perfect sense.

    However, in Mexico, it doesn’t.

    It is very easy to find tenants, but there is virtually no legal recourse if those tenants destroy the house that you rented to them.

    Why, you might ask?

    This has to do with the lack of access to the court system and the unenforceability of contracts.

    For all practical purposes, low-value contracts cannot be enforced in Mexico.

    They never are – especially not for a relatively petty sum like the monthly rent on a house.

    My point is this: DO NOT WORRY ABOUT SIGNING YOUR LIFE AWAY ON AN APARTMENT RENTAL CONTRACT; IT IS NOT ENFORCEABLE ANYWAYS.

    The only thing that the landlord has to hold against you is your deposit – and they will do exactly that for any reason they see fit (especially if you’ve violated anything in the contract).

    But nothing more.

    In Mexico, an apartment “contract” is as worthless as the paper it’s written on beyond the value of your deposit.

    Should I Get A Playa Del Carmen Apartment?

    Yes, yes, yes.

    Get yourself an apartment here…..and welcome to paradise.

    And if this was useful, send me an invite to the house warming party!

    Lots of love,

    Rufus

    Rufus signature

    It’s your turn? Do you have something you can add to this conversation about getting an apartment here? Please leave it in the comments section below!

    21 comments on “Playa Del Carmen Apartments

    1. Rufus,

      Thank you for taking all the time to put all this information on your site. I’m learning a LOT about Playa Del Carmen!

      I’m contacting you because I’m planning on moving to town and have found several apartments for rent. One of the apartments I found is in the south part of town in a place called Playa Car. The other one is in the center of town from what I can tell next to a place called Kool Beach Club. Do you have any idea which of these would be a better place to live? Thank you so much!

      Regards,

      Melanie

      • Massagable Melanie,

        Thank you for the comment. Also, congratulations on your decision to move to Playa Del Carmen. This is an amazing city with so many things to do. I think you’ll love it here!

        In regard to the two apartments that you are choosing between, I am quite familiar with both locations. The first one that you mentioned is in an area of town called Playacar (one word).

        Playacar is a very upscale part of this city. It has a golf course in the center, the largest houses in the city, and a beach to die for. It is also a gated community that requires permission to enter.

        I absolutely love Playacar! However, it has several disadvantages. First of all, depending on which part of Playacar you are going to be living in, it can be quite far from the center of the city. If you look on a map, you will recognize that Playacar is quite long. If you’re living on the north end of Playacar, you will be close to downtown Playa Del Carmen, and you won’t have a problem. However, if you are living on the south end of Playacar, you will definitely need your own means of transportation – as even a bike might not be enough.

        https://goo.gl/maps/PGNjwytjJUo

        So, while Playacar is a great place to have an apartment, and a very exclusive area of Playa Del Carmen, it is also a little bit boring and not in the mix of things if you live deep within it.

        In regard to the other apartment option, Kool Beach Club resides on a beach that is normally referred to as “Mamita’s Beach” Mamita’s Beach is probably the most popular and busiest beach of the city. It is where the large music festivals (BPM Music Festival, Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, etc…) are held and Kool Beach Club is it directly across from Mamita’s Beach Club. If you have an apartment there, you will be close to everything! That is the advantage of living in this area.

        However, because you are close to everything, you may not get much sleep at night. It can get a little loud with all the music festivals, beach activities, and the proximity to Fifth Avenue & 10th Avenue. If you’re up for a lot of action, that would be the place I would choose.

        https://goo.gl/maps/gqurTYJK4x22

        So with that said about each, you will need to make a decision. Do you want luxurious tranquility, or do you want a wild and unpredictable proximity to all the fun?

        I hope this helps Melanie, and if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

        Lots of love,

        Rufus

    2. What about surrounding communities like Solidaridad? We will have a car and want to live a little further out in a quieter area. The apt link you gave has tons of available apts.

      Thanks!

      • Rob,

        Thanks for the comment. Playa Del Carmen is part of Solidaridad. In essence, Playa Del Carmen is just a fancy name for Solidaridad.

        Yes, there are a lot of apartments available here. Moreover, there are lots of neighborhoods in this city as well. The correct term is “fraccionamiento,” although it is often abbreviated as “fracc.” It’s a pain in the ass to pronounce, so don’t even try!

        More than in the US, for example, Mexican cities are usually broken up into parts or fraccionamientos. The address system here is extremely ill-planned. Thus, when looking for an apartment, you will need to know what area you want to live in and then find an apartment in that neighborhood. For some reason the advertisers NEVER use the maps that are available within the websites to tell readers exactly where the apartment is located. Why? I have no idea, but as carefree (a.k.a. sloppy) the culture is here, it is no surprise.

        At the time of this writing, I don’t have a map on my site that shows every neighborhood for two reasons: first of all, because there are so many of them, and second, because they change so quickly. Literally, there are new ones popping up every month. (To be honest, I actually created an extremely detailed map with the names of every neighborhood, but it is a HUGE file, so I am reluctant to post it because so many people access this site through their phones and it would load very slowly.) With that said, there is a site that has a map that shows most of the neighborhoods in Playa Del Carmen.

        Try this link: http://playanow.com/sites/all/themes/playanow/imgs/service_area.png

        I hope this helps!!

        Take care,

        Rufus

    3. Hi Rufus,

      The date is June 7, 2017. Are you still there?

      My wife and I are thinking of coming at the end of August for 5-7 days to check out the place from CA. We are thinking of renting in Mexico because quite frankly, it’s just to big an expense for our pocket book to stay in San Diego. We are mature adults and want to live in a hospitable place that is a safe environment but at the same time be able to be adventurous also safely. Can you recommend a hotel for our stay that puts us near 5th and the water but will also not break our piggy bank?

      If we do decide that Playa Del Carmen is a wonderful place to call home, we would rent and could probably afford $700 a month. SSA and savings. I figure the Mexican people come to my country to prosper so it’s only fare that we take advantage of a more inexpensive retirement.

      Note: Is there another city or area you would suggest for us with an American presence?

      Thanks a bunch for your exquisite and picturesque writing skills, your words paint a most definable picture.

      • Bud,

        What’s happening, my man? First of all, thank you for the comment. It is always nice to hear from people who are either coming to visit or moving here permanently – or both, as in your case.

        I’m not sure if five to seven days is enough to secure an apartment, but it’s definitely enough to get a clear vision of the city and see if you want to pursue making living arrangements here.

        One hotel that you may want to check out is called Hotel Colorado. It is very cheap, may not even have a website, and close enough to the beach and 5th that you won’t feel lost. In addition, it will give you a real feel for the non-touristy part of town, which is where you may end up living once you make your decision. The manager there is a German guy named Chord. Speaks great English and is a straight shooter.

        Another hotel that I stayed at for several days when I first moved here is called Luna Blue. It is at least double the price of the hotel Colorado mentioned above, but as much closer to 5th Avenue and the beach. It used to be owned by several Americans, but they sold it to a group of Mexicans from Mexico City who run a tight ship there. The manager’s name is Hugo.

        In regard to your $700 a month apartment, that should be more than sufficient to get a decent place in a safe area of town. At the time of this writing, that would mean approximately $12,500 Mexican pesos per month. That’s very reasonable. If it were me, I would shoot for an apartment that was even a little bit cheaper than that so that you would be readily prepared to absorb any sort of fluctuations in the USD/MXN exchange rate.

        There are several pockets in the area that have an American ex-pat presence, but this is the center of them, and it’s also developing quite rapidly. With the development, comes better infrastructure and amenities. Unless you are a real adventurer, I would think that this area would be best for you at this time.

        If you move here, you will see that there is an endless amount of places to explore and things to do – from bars, swimming holes, beaches, activities, restaurants, dancing, and whatever else get your rocks off.

        Finally, thank you for the comments about my site and writing style. I made this site because I was offended by the lies and condescension that I encountered while visiting so many other Playa Del Carmen sites out there that timidly shy away from anything that’s not perfectly in line with the politically correct crap that’s shoved down our throats every day. I try to tell things how they are and leave it at that for visitors to decide how to interpret it.

        Thanks again for the comment, and I hope you enjoy your visit to Playa Del Carmen and find a nice apartment here.

        Take care,

        Rufus

    4. Your Awesommeeeeee Rufus. Thanks for the wonderful information. I hope that when we get there, I’ll be able to greet you in person. Until then, rock on Bro.

    5. Hi Rufus, I was looking on the apt website you recommended, and I see a ton of listings offering apartments for 45,000 usd in a place called Marecko near Tulum and Coba. Do you know anything about it? It looks very interesting.

      Thanks!

      • Rob,

        Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about those areas.

        If you find out anything interesting, let me know!!!!!

        Rufus

    6. Looks like your ‘safe’ area is no longer safe. Do you know what is going on in the ‘safe’ area and how long they will recommend U.S. government and tourists to stay away from those 5 neighbhorhoods?

      • Deb,

        The areas on my map are all safe. You can get an apartment in any of the highlighted areas and you will be perfectly fine.

        There was a travel warning issued for the area due to a ferry explosion. However, the ferry explosion had a back story behind it that included government corruption, the arrest of a former governor wanted for embezzlement, and a clear connection between the boats that the explosives were found on. Both the boats were owned by the former governor’s father. Go figure.

        In regard to the travel ban of government employees, the ban was completely lifted on Friday, March 16, 2018. This was only about two weeks after it was officially enacted.

        Thus, the travel ban is no longer valid.

        In addition, just because there is a travel ban does not mean it is unsafe. Much of this is propoganda. If you don’t realize that the media exaggerates and dramatizes, you really should go back to school. This is partially true of our government as well. (I’m referring to the US government, as I’m American as well. Are you from Virginia?)

        Governments ALWAYS take an ultra-cautious approach to travel-related advisories.

        Do you have kids? Do they go to school? The reason I ask is because the international community cannot stop talking about how “dangerous” and “deadly” it is to attend an American school nowadays.

        If you believe the news, US schools are a bloodbath. If you look at reality, US schools offer some of the best public education in the world.

        Take it from someone within the ground zero area–don’t believe the hype.

        Rufus

    7. Thank you for the great information on this site. I am a writer and an artist and I really appreciate your candor and honesty in describing and explaining all of this valuable information.
      I have met two women from Playa and I really like them both. I lost contact with them but since I shall be moving there in the future I shall do my best to reunite with them. One owns a bakery and one is an artist and both live and work in Playa. Both, are not locals.
      Anyway I really appreciate this site you have made it is one of the better so far about Playa, if not the best.

      • Greg,

        Thank you for the comments. I hope you find the apartment that you are looking for–as well as the two ladies.

        Don’t get “oneitis” over an individual woman. There are lots and lots of fish in the sea here, so you’ll likely meet a lot of people during your trip/move here.

        Thanks again, and good luck!

        Rufus

    8. Hi Rufus. Thanks for all the info here. I felt a bit better after I read it. But I still have a question for you. I work online and have quite a few devices that I would need plugged in while working. Is the electricity consistent in the apartments there? I mean do the lights go out frequently? Will I need some sort of battery backup? Thanks again, Rufus.

      • Jake,

        Thanks for the comment and questions. Glad you’re enjoying the info.

        In regard to your question, the electricity is quite consistent here. However, it is not as consistent as, for example, it is in the US. I would guess my electricity goes out for an average of 5 minutes/month. Not much time, but unpredictable in regard to when it will happen.

        If having a 100% dependable electrical connection in your apartment is extremely important, I would recommend a battery backup. You can either bring one yourself or buy one at Office Depot/OfficeMax here.

        Also, the plug style for all electronics is exactly like the ones in the states (if you didn’t already know this).

        Hope this helps.

        See you here soon…..

        Rufus

    9. Probably coming down for what’s left of the winter. Thanks for the advice about contracts. I was always curious about how and it was possible to enforce them in a foreign country. Thanks again.

      • Matt,

        Thanks for the comment. Nothing enforceable about apartment contracts here other than the deposit you pay.

        See you on the beach…

        Rufus

    10. Hey, can you share some thoughts on the whole security deposit thing? As you may already know, here in the US, security deposits are a serious thing. There is legal recourse if the landlord decides to keep it, and things like “wear and tear”, or the normal usage of the apartment isn’t enough reason to keep money from the tenant (in most states).

      I hear this is a shit show down there. I am even contemplating just calculating affordability based on a 13 month year rather than 12. What can you share about that? does a contract actually help you get your deposit back (assuming no damage). Thanks dude.

      • Pepe,

        Not too much more to tell you. The problem is that there is no reasonable way to enforce contracts here.

        Of course you are better off getting things in writing than not having something in writing at all, but a landlord can more or less do what they want. Conversely, you can do what you want as well, so long as you pay your rent on time. The only thing that the landlord can do is keep your deposit. There is no practical “I’m going to sue you” threat. It simply doesn’t exist like it does back home.

        When people don’t pay their rent here, it is not like the states. In the states, you send them a legal eviction notice. They get a certain amount of days to make up for the rent. You wait to see if they pay. You add fees on top of the rent. Blah blah blah.

        If you don’t pay your rent here, the landlord will usually enter your apartment, move all your stuff out onto the street, and change the locks on your apartment. Either that or they will tip some local heavyweights to come in and force you out with the threat of violence if you don’t move quickly.

        Here, you have to trust your instincts more. In the states you are protected by laws. Here you are protected by money and friends. You have a lot more freedom here–but so does your landlord.

        Find a good apartment. Talk to the landlord. Ask questions. Talk to other people who live there. If you don’t have a good “feeling,” don’t rent. Get things in writing, but remember that a contract won’t save your ass because it’s more or less unenforceable.

        Hope this helps. You can also always fill out the form above. It gets forwarded to the most honest renter I know.

        Good luck….

        Rufus

    11. Rufus,

      loved reading what you wrote. do you have any advice for someone looking to retire possibly to playa? how about advice on condos, homes, or townhomes in the safe areas? love the way you tell it like you see it, that saves alot of people the trouble of weeding out other people’s BS.

      • Wes,

        Thanks so much for the feedback. Wrote all this site for people like you who want the truth.

        In regard to your questions, it’s best if you come to see the city for yourself if you want to retire. So much depends on budget. More expensive = safer areas. Less expensive = relatively less safe areas. However, if you stick to the Safe Areas map on this page, you will be fine no matter what you choose.

        My best advice for someone looking to retire here is to spend a few months here and see if it matches your personality. Living here and vacationing here are dramatically different things!

        Rufus

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