Moving to Playa del Carmen soon? Whether you’re planning on staying there for a few weeks or a few months, we got you.
In this guide, we’ll help you find long-term rentals in Playa del Carmen.
We’ll also share our experience finding an apartment for our arrival as well as in person.
You’ll find out how to pick the right area where to stay, how to come up with a budget, and what to look for when finding the perfect apartment in Playa del Carmen.
Where To Stay In Playa Del Carmen
There are two main areas in Playa del Carmen – Centro and Playacar.
If it’s your first time in Playa del Carmen, you may not know where to stay so we’ll describe both of them here to help you make a decision.
Playa Del Carmen Centro
If you’re a digital nomad or an online entrepreneur, you may want to move to Centro. Centro is basically the centre of Playa del Carmen.
In this area, you’ll find plenty of bars, clubs, cafés, and restaurants. This is where you’ll find most coworking spaces.
The thing I like the most about living in Playa del Carmen Centro is that everything is walkable.
We didn’t need to hire bicycles, we rarely take a taxi and we walk everywhere in the city (which is a great opportunity to make more steps).
One other thing to keep in mind is that you may want to live close to the supermarkets.
While you’ll find convenience stores like Seven-Eleven pretty much everywhere in Centro, the bigger supermarkets like Mega and Walmart are in the same area.
To help you figure out where they are, you can check the locations on Google Maps below:
Although, if you’re not into cooking, you may feel like staying somewhere else is better as long as you have restaurants around you.
You can access the beach easily, but keep in mind, the 5th avenue is very touristy so if you’re not into big crowds – simply avoid this area.
Playacar
Playacar is another popular area amongst expats in Playa del Carmen. Although, you should know that it’s also the resort area – which means it’s not necessarily ideal for digital nomads.
While it’s not as crowded as Centro, it could be a brilliant option if you’re looking for a quiet long-term rental in Playa del Carmen.
How To Find Long-Term Rentals In Playa Del Carmen
It is relatively easy to find a long-term rental in Playa del Carmen.
We tried different strategies to find an apartment but in our experience, replying to posts in Facebook groups was the most effective strategy.
Below, you’ll find our tips to find a long-term rent in Playa.
Facebook Groups
There are several Facebook groups in which you can find apartment ads in Playa del Carmen.
That said, I’d suggest joining this group: Rentals and Sales in Central Playa del Carmen if you’re searching for something in Centro area.
You’ll find two types of posts in this group:
- Posts that are written by agents sharing condo rentals and sales
- Posts that are written by people searching for an apartment.
We had more success by messaging agents in private to schedule visits. This strategy is great if you’re already in Playa del Carmen and you’re searching for a long-term rental.
This is actually how we found our apartment. After visiting a few apartments from an agent with whom we were in touch via this Facebook group, we finally found a suitable apartment.
We also tried to write our own post and we only had a few replies. The apartments offered via this strategy were not fitting our budget or needs.
Agencies
Alternatively, you can contact agencies in person or visit their websites.
That said, you’re likely going to talk to an agent even on a Facebook group because agents have a lot of properties and are active in these groups.
The agent we used worked in collaboration with other agencies. We signed our rental contract with Happy Address.
Airbnb
If you’re searching for accommodation in Playa del Carmen in preparation for your arrival, you can take a look on Airbnb.
Now, you should know that Airbnbs are usually more expensive and the options are limited.
It’s been recommended to look at the reviews and make sure you pick a well-rated Airbnb especially if you’re planning on staying long-term.
Initially, we had booked an Airbnb for one month so that we can have enough time to settle in Playa del Carmen.
The idea was to try it out before committing for a longer period of time. Once we decided to stay longer, we wanted to visit apartments in person.
That said, you could also book a hotel in Playa del Carmen instead and find your long-term apartment once you have arrived.
In-Person
Finally, there’s one more way to find an apartment in Playa del Carmen. You can go around condominium buildings and ask if they have any availabilities.
Usually, the front desk person will let you know if it’s possible to rend and they will take your information (name, budget, type of apartment, length of stay, and Whatsapp number).
Then, they will send out your request to the owners, and you may get a message from them if there’s anything suitable.
We left our information in several buildings, and only two of them got back to us. This strategy didn’t work out for us.
What To Expect From Apartment Rentals In Playa Del Carmen
The condominium buildings in Playa del Carmen are modern looking and there are so many. That said, you should be able to find something that suits your needs and your budget.
Below, you’ll find information regarding long-term rentals in Playa del Carmen and more importantly, what to expect from your stay.
Type Of Apartments
Most apartments available are small (studio or one-bedroom apartment). This is ideal for solo travelers or couples.
But you’ll notice that there are many two-bedroom apartments too. Those are generally very spacious and ideal for families or friends.
Amenities
You’ll find apartments that include fully-equipped kitchens, air conditioners, televisions, etc.
Most apartments have double beds, so if you want (or need) a bigger bed, make sure to ask about the bed size before visiting the apartment.
Some apartments offer a washing machine. That said, if you don’t mind using the local laundry shops, you’ll have more options when it comes to picking a long-term rental.
Note that some apartments are not furnished, so make sure you know what you’re getting if you’re only there temporarily.
Finally, note that many buildings offer gyms, pools, and more – so make sure to be aware of your needs when trying to find a rental in Playa del Carmen.
Utility Bills
Another important thing to note is that utility bills are usually not included. Here, I’m referring to electricity and water bills.
You should make sure to see the electricity and water meters when entering a new flat to avoid any rip-off later.
Keep in mind that bigger flats are going to require more electricity if you use the AC constantly.
The same might apply if you rent your apartment on Airbnb. Many hosts don’t include electricity bills in their listings.
Rental Process
Depending on the strategy used and if you’re already in Playa del Carmen, you may have different experiences when it comes to the rental process.
I’m assuming you can even rent a long-term flat entirely online if you do not wish to see the flat before committing to it.
Airbnb
When we rented our apartment via Airbnb, the process was relatively easy. You enter your dates, pay the rate, and organize the check-in with the host.
Then, when you leave the Airbnb, the host will send you the electricity bill and you must pay it via Airbnb unless stated otherwise on their listing.*
*Many hosts don’t include utility bills in their listings so make sure to read the house rules before committing to an apartment.
In-Person
When we picked our second apartment, we used the agency mentioned above, and here’s how it worked.
- After visiting the flat, we negotiated the rate with the owner via the agent.
- Once we all agreed on a rate, the agent set up a meeting to pay a deposit and sign the contract.
Security Deposit
The amount of the deposit can vary depending on the rental price. In our case, we saw different amounts (the average was USD 500).
Note that you can pay your deposit with cash, via bank transfer, or with your credit card in person.
As we were there during high season, they told us we needed to pay an advance on the flat, so we paid 50% upfront and we paid the security deposit at the moment of check-in.
We had no problem getting our deposit back at the end of our rental.
Contract
We also signed the contract in person when paying the advance. The agency sent us a copy of the contract via email.
Check-In
Finally, at the moment of check-in, we paid the remaining amount as well as the security deposit.
Now, depending on your length of stay, you could be paying monthly. In our case, we paid everything upfront.
How Much Does It Cost To Rent An Apartment In Playa Del Carmen
It really depends. In fact, we’ve seen pretty much everything from a few hundred US dollars per month to $4000 per month.
It depends on several factors like your budget, amenities, building, area, etc.
It also depends on the season. For example, the rainy season is going to be cheaper while December is extremely expensive.
We decided to rent a spacious apartment which was significantly more expensive than other flats we visited.
But, there was a fully equipped gym which meant we didn’t need a gym membership and there was a huge table so that we can set up our laptops with a comfortable setup.
Final Thoughts On Long-Term Rentals In Playa Del Carmen
Finding an apartment in Playa del Carmen is relatively easy. Although, if you lived in Southeast Asia before you may find the process slightly longer in Playa del Carmen.
In Southeast Asia (Bali and Chiang Mai for example), you can find an apartment within one day and move in the next day.
In Playa del Carmen, it took us about a week of visiting apartments daily before we could find a suitable long-term rental.
Apartments were getting rented out very quickly and we missed a few opportunities like that.
Also, being here in the high season made the whole process longer as many people were looking at apartments during the same period.
So, with that being said, make sure to be patient and make sure to book a hotel or an Airbnb for a few days so that you can have enough time to find the perfect apartment in Playa del Carmen.
Heading to Playa soon? Read our guide to find out is Playa del Carmen safe.
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