😐A single person spends $2,679 per month in Aberdare vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,663 per month in Aberdare vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,647 per month in Aberdare vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Aberdare costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Aberdare sits 96% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.02£15.71
$11.60MX$200
81.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8£48.41
$47.11MX$812
37.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72£8.01
$11.88MX$205
-9.76%
Cappuccino
$4.90£3.66
$3.98MX$68.6
23.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12£2.33
$1.43MX$24.60
118.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81£1.35
$0.82MX$14.22
120.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.73£4.28
$3.19MX$55.0
79.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79£3.58
$6.79MX$117
-29.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47£1.10
$1.68MX$28.89
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46£1.09
$2.20MX$37.88
-33.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88£1.41
$1.71MX$29.45
9.94%
Eggs
$1.60£1.20
$2.74MX$47.26
-41.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30£6.95
$9.58MX$165
-2.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.09£6.79
$9.01MX$155
0.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.32£10.70
$12.81MX$221
11.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39£1.04
$2.89MX$49.81
-51.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37£1.02
$1.50MX$25.81
-8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37£1.03
$2.15MX$37.03
-36.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24£3.17
$2.26MX$38.96
87.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37£1.03
$1.98MX$34.15
-30.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37£1.02
$1.99MX$34.30
-31.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32£0.99
$1.23MX$21.28
7.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76£1.31
$1.20MX$20.63
46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.84£14.08
$4.55MX$78.5
314.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.67£11.71
$10.37MX$179
51.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33£1.00
$1.62MX$27.91
-17.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34£1.00
$2.88MX$49.67
-53.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48£2.60
$0.60MX$10.35
480.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.6£71.5
$28.80MX$497
231.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.13£5.33
$5.39MX$92.9
32.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71£1.28
$3.73MX$64.3
-54.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.66£16.19
$5.77MX$99.5
275.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06£1.54
$1.54MX$26.48
33.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.6K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
69.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K£30.8K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
57.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$635£474
$91.4MX$1,576
594.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.56£12.38
$25.20MX$435
-34.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.27£33.83
$31.24MX$539
44.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.84£35.75
$67.2MX$1,159
-28.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.26£12.89
$4.86MX$83.8
255.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,604£1,199
$224MX$3,856
617.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,542£4,142
$4,229MX$72.9K
31.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7£66.3
$47.10MX$812
88.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.74£34.18
$44.29MX$764
3.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4£62.3
$80.1MX$1,381
4.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4£66.1
$92.7MX$1,598
-4.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,259£941
$1,063MX$18.3K
18.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038£776
$390MX$6,728
166.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102£1,571
$2,149MX$37.1K
-2.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,676£1,253
$1,272MX$21.9K
31.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,174£3,867
$4,001MX$69.0K
29.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,926£2,934
$6,502MX$112.1K
-39.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdare
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,694£2,760
$758MX$13.1K
387.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.59
11.45
-51.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdare: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,259 in Aberdare versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 387% higher in Aberdare, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Aberdare versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Aberdare vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so Aberdare wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aberdare vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdare or Playa del Carmen?
Aberdare costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aberdare and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,019 per month in Aberdare and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdare or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aberdare compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,679 in Aberdare and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Aberdare compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 232% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aberdare or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Aberdare at $2,679. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdare it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdare or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,679 in Aberdare. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aberdare or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdare makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.