The Worst Things About Living in Playa Del Carmen
Well, here you go, the most unfiltered reality check about living in Playa Del Carmen. We are going to talk about the worst things about Playa Del Carmen to give you a realistic view. We are writing this for people thinking of moving to the area a complete view of what life is like in Playa Del Carmen. In a separate article we will do one about tourists and what are the worst things about Playa.
Playa Del Carmen has sunshine, smooth beaches with turquoise waters, and that Mexican warmth that attracts so many tourists. It also has the attraction to people looking for a tropical place to live, with ease of residential visas, lower cost of living, and is close to the US and Canada. Ahead of you, there have been tens of thousands of other foreigners that have made Playa Del Carmen their home (for part of the year or year-round).
Of course, every place is not considered paradise to everyone. Some places can be someone’s hell and another’s dream location to live. While many decide to move to Mexico, only about 10% of foreigners reside in the Riviera Maya and even a smaller percentage in Playa Del Carmen. Of course, Mexico is a big country, and it offers many good locations for people to relocate to, but this means that many find Playa not to be the perfect fit for them.
If you are someone thinking about moving to Playa Del Carmen, here is an honest look at some of the issues that face residents. This way you can make a good decision about where you want to live.
The Top 3 Reasons Why People Choose Not to Live in Playa Del Carmen
So even before people move to Playa Del Carmen and get to know it better, they choose not to live there. Why? Here are the top reasons why Playa Del Carmen gets eliminated from peoples list of places to live.
- Expense. We often refer to Playa Del Carmen as the Monaco of Mexico. It is a unique city state that is very different from most of Mexico. The standard of living is higher, there are more new condos, and a wide array of services. With all of this, prices have risen. Rents are higher, food costs more, and this means life in Playa is more expensive when compared to other Mexican cities. Since many move to Mexico based on the expectation of lower expenses, this can eliminate Playa from the list.
- Weather. Playa has lots of sunshine, in fact about 330 days a year. It also helps there are no industries to our west, so we also have bright blue skies. The year-round swimmable ocean and cenotes are great as well. But many that come on vacation enjoy the beach and sun and then go home. They do not have to walk to the grocery store each week in the heat or wait for the electric bill. Living in Playa Del Carmen is different than vacationing. Even visiting in the winter is very different from the summer. For those that don’t like sweating or being hot with some frequency, Playa might not be a good option for you.
- Lack of Culture. Many that look to move to Mexico like the culture. Mexico has a living culture with 69 national languages including Spanish. Regions of Mexico offer different food, fruits and styles of dress. This is what many people think about when they think about living in Mexico. The Riviera Maya, despite its name, has mostly been built in the past 30 years and offers less history and traditions. For people who have not explored Mexico much, it can seem like a new world to discover in Playa. For those that have traveled around, Playa has a dearth fo culture or very commercialized versions. Playa Del Carmen has created its own culture. however. It is a fusion of the many immigrants. In Playa you can find a culture, just not what most consider typical Mexican. For those looking for that, often they move to San Miguel, Oaxaca or other more western places in Mexico.
Now the Worst Things in Playa Del Carmen
If you have gotten past the first objections to moving to Playa Del Carmen, here are some things you will have to deal with once you move here. Here is our list in somewhat worst things to minor irritants.
Note: Your perspective will have a lot to do with how you see things.
Noise!
Playa has a dense downtown with lots of bars, clubs, and places that like to fill spaces with loud music. What can feel like a lively and fun atmosphere on vacation can be sleepless nights to another that lives here. Many of the areas near 5th Avenue are loud and most people would not consider living there because of the noise. Even if you get out of the center, there can be Sala de Fiestas (party rental spaces) that can be in neighborhoods or other loud businesses.
If you thought you could have the excitement of Playa without the noise, that will not be the case. For those that live in Playa Del Carmen, they have done their research before renting or buying. Understanding that some areas of the city are lively and designed for vacationers and not full-time residents. See our article here: Is Playa Del Carmen loud? How to deal with the noise and enjoy!
Transportation Issues
Imagine you want to go to the mall. You do not have a car so your options are a small van without air-conditioning that will be packed with people or taking a taxi that will charge you what they feel like that day. Those are your choices because walking is not an option nor is Uber since they don’t operate in Playa. Once you live in Playa you start to see some of the issues with transportation.
Some people ask, “Do I need a car in Playa Del Carmen?”. The answer is no, but it depends on where you live. Public transportation is generally slow to outer laying areas and limited. Taxis are everywhere but since they so not have meters, prices are supposed to be by zones, but drivers are known to overcharge. Even the Tren Maya has a station in Playa, but it is 20-minute drive from the center and then only has a couple of trains a day.
Playa Del Carmen has added some bike lanes and made it somewhat better. However, bike thefts are very common with any bike without a great lock. On top of that, the sun and heat might temper your enthusiasm for taking that bike ride.
Once you become a resident you figure out what transportation works well and what does not. Many however wish there were better transportation options.
Power Outages, Water, Cable and Cell Service
Playa Del Carmen at one point was the fastest growing city in Latin America. In fact, in the last decade between censuses, Playa grew 103%! That is a lot of growth, and infrastructure has not kept up with it. This means that there are stresses on all infrastructure and when you live here, you notice it sometimes.
This is how it affects you when you live here. Electricity can go out about once or twice a month for a few hours depending on where you live. It is a fairly minor problem, but it seems bigger when you don’t have any air conditioning working or you need to be online It is being addressed but it is common enough thing that people talk about it. We talk more about it and what is being done in this article: Lights Out! Why Playa Del Carmen Has a Power Problem
Water is essential to life, and you really miss it when there is no service. There are not too many problems with the water. Usually, they publish on Facebook when service will be cut for maintenance in certain areas. While the city is pumping water to your place, sometimes the problem is internal. Because the water has a high mineral count, pipes, faucets and shower heads all clog up with mineral deposits. This can also create a problem with your toilet continuously running and running up your water bill.
Cable and fell service is decent in Playa Del Carmen. There are occasional outages of cable internet. In some places the problem is no services are available. There still are some areas that have weak cell signal or no cable services.
These are things you must navigate when living in Playa.
Prices of Almost Everything
When people move to Playa Del Carmen, they know that it is more expensive place than other destinations in Mexico. However, it can seem like things are going up and life can get expensive, especially for those on a fixed income.
Because Playa Del Carmen is a tourist town, there are tourist prices and local prices. Tourism puts pressure on rental prices (see our article Why is RENT so expensive in Playa Del Carmen? ). Another factor of an international destination is living between Dollars and Pesos. Sometimes the exchange rate changes 5% to 10%. This can make your expenses change overnight. Some people that pay rent from transferring Dollars to pay in Pesos complain because they see the price increases sometimes.
Some tours and parks are very expensive to do on a regular basis and really only something that tourists would pay when on vacation. Trying to live a daily life in a vacation spot means choosing where you go and what your buy. It can take a while to settle in and figure out what is a good deal and what is too much for a local. The first year is always a lot more expensive since people are finding their way and trying all the new things.
If you want the same life as back home, you often end of spending more than others that adjust to local standards. The good news is, Playa offers many levels of service and price points. It just means finding your budget and sticking to it to make life affordable.
Humidity
We already covered the weather and heat in the pre-objections to moving to Playa. But once you are here, and depending on where you live, you will have to deal with the humidity. Besides just feeling hotter because of the humidity, you have physical effects in your home.
Small things like the saltshaker not working because the salt clumps together or clothes mildewing in the closet are going to be new to many people. Some condos that are first floor or have low air flow can have bad issues with humidity. The solution starts when you start to look for somewhere to live. Keep these tips in mind from this article, How to Live with Humidity, Mold and Mildew in Mexico
Crime in Playa Del Carmen
Most people take into consideration the level of crime in a location before moving there. Playa Del Carmen is a safe place to live, just with a few caveats. For residents you will most likely experience a bike theft or home robbery if anything. Bikes are stolen all the time in Playa because they are easy targets. Scooters get stolen also or just the batteries. Home robberies are often a crime o opportunity. Meaning that if a window is open or something is an easy target, someone might try to take it.
In general, Playa is safe place. It compares to other moderate crime places like Orlando suburbs or London, Onterio. We have a full detailed article for you in our Playa Del Carmen Crime Guide for Residents.
Social Life or Lack of It
You might picture yourself having the best time of your life in Playa. Going out, beach days, and having time with friends. Fortunately, most people move to Playa with a partner. This at least makes it a little easier because you have a built-in companion. Making friends and finding your social circle can be hard and take time in Playa.
Unlike many towns and cities, Playa is a transient place. Not only are there different tourists in town each week, but there are also people that live part of the year in town. There are also language barriers. Many wonder how to meet new people in Playa Del Carmen. It can take time, but sometimes it is a reason people move away from Playa.
Trashy Lots and In the Street
No one likes to move to “paradise” and have to look at trash. Trash is a daily fact of life no matter where you live. How it is disposed is another thing. While the downtown is fairly well maintained, there are property lots that sit empty and have trash. As you get out of the center you start to find a mish mosh of houses with chickens in the backyard and half-built houses. You will also notice more trash beside the streets.
It is not all Playas fault though. You can walk to remote beach areas at the edges of Playa, and you can see just how much plastic trash washes up from the ocean. Many on vacation do not notice this as much because in front of the hotels there are staff raking and cleaning the beach daily.
Playa Del Carmen Changes with Time
There is a cycle of living in Playa. The first step is discovery and getting to know all the cool things in and around Playa. Then people fall in love with the place and they decide to move. The living in Playa part starts and they are content. Then things start to change. It might mean several new condo buildings are going up in your area or your favorite restaurants close. In a period of about 10 years, the Playa you fell in love with is not recognizable. The people move or accept Playa is changing. Then new people come and discover Playa, and the process repeats.
Playa is a popular place. More people want to move to Playa, so it grows. People have new ideas and businesses open and close. Playa Del Carmen is always changing, sometimes improving and sometimes becoming something you might not recognize.
Beach Access, Erosion, and Sargassum
Most people move to Playa to be close to the ocean and enjoy the lifestyle. When the beaches are harder to get to and they are covered in seaweed, it certainly is less attractive.
Since 2014 Playa has been getting larger than normal amounts of seaweed (sargassum). Most residents have come to accept it and plan days to the beach for when it is clear. It does get old to hear the questions from tourists about it and it is sad to see how it has affected tourism.
Things that Are All of Mexico Including Playa Del Carmen
There are also things that residents dislike about Playa but are also things that affect all moving to Mexico. Here are a few more things to consider that you will have to deal with if you move to Playa Del Carmen or other part of Mexico.
Paperwork, regulations and Customer Service
Mexico is the land of paperwork. You will soon find this out even as you start your visa process to move to Mexico. Many places you need copies of everything and originals plus two things you forgot or did not know to bring. You will also soon find out that your electric bill is about as valuable as your passport.
Besides needed copies of everything, it can be frustrating to dealing with proceses of getting new license plates for your car or opening a bank account. Many people working behind a desk are only allowed to do things a certain way even if it does not make sense. This can make a simple task into a half day adventure.
After moving to Mexico, you might have a renewed appreciation for customer service. Many people comment on the lack of service in many businesses. It might be waiting at the bank for an hour to talk to a representative or trying to get a plumber or cable person to your place. Many things take patients and the knowing what it will be like to do some simple things.
Learning Spanish
You know you will have to learn some Spanish if you move to Mexico. The basics are fairly easy to learn, greetings and situations in your daily life. It is the things you will need to learn beyond just survival Spanish you need daily that are hard. It takes pushing yourself to learn to make it happen.
Culture Shock
On vacation you notice some things, but once you are living in Mexico, you come across many culture shocks. It might surprise you just how different attitudes and ways of doing things are in a country to close to yours. It may be confusing and frustrating at first, but the more you understand the culture and the reasons why things are the way they are; you gradually get used to somethings. See our article Culture Shock Mexico-How to understand the cultural differences
Rental and Real Estate Scams
Foreigners moving to Mexico are targets for scams. Not only rental scams but sales scams as well. Since everyone needs housing, and these are big ticket expenses, there are always people looking to take advantage of others. Mexico has been cracking down on these things. Common Scams in Playa Del Carmen to Avoid
Do You Want to Live in Playa Del Carmen Still?
After reading the above comments about what living in Playa Del Carmen is like, do you still want to give it a try? Honestly with all the things that make life frustrating and interesting in Playa, it can be an enjoyable place to live. We hope we did not scare you off, but we wanted to be honest and share the things that can be frustrating about living in Playa. knowing a place realistically before you make a move can help you make good decision.
Our website has been online since 2014 give advice about Playa Del Carmen and the area. If you have questions about the area, feel free to leave them in the comments or contact us.
More Resources for People Looking to Move to Playa Del Carmen
- Everything About Apartment Renting in Playa Del Carmen
- Where do most expats live in Playa Del Carmen?
- Playa Del Carmen Real Estate -Should You Buy This Year?
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