🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $707 in Acarigua versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Acarigua versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,769 in Acarigua versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Acarigua costs roughly 45% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acarigua47% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.10VES 6,761
$11.73MX$203
3.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7VES 30.6K
$41.62MX$721
31.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.99VES 5,582
$10.64MX$184
-6.11%
Cappuccino
$2.64VES 1,476
$3.52MX$61.0
-25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27VES 709
$1.51MX$26.17
-15.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97VES 542
$0.97MX$16.87
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48VES 827
$2.95MX$51.1
-49.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97VES 1,661
$4.45MX$77.2
-33.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86VES 1,041
$1.38MX$23.97
34.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67VES 1,492
$1.89MX$32.78
41.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45VES 810
$1.64MX$28.37
-11.59%
Eggs
$2.86VES 1,600
$2.51MX$43.42
13.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70VES 5,420
$8.34MX$145
16.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38VES 4,128
$8.34MX$145
-11.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.48VES 4,180
$10.73MX$186
-30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$5.33VES 2,979
$2.60MX$45.12
105.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80VES 1,005
$1.46MX$25.25
23.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27VES 1,269
$1.90MX$32.94
19.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02VES 1,128
$2.08MX$35.98
-2.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69VES 1,501
$1.78MX$30.77
51.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09VES 1,166
$2.19MX$37.87
-4.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34VES 751
$1.04MX$18.02
28.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89VES 1,057
$1.08MX$18.66
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95VES 2,206
$4.08MX$70.7
-3.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.17VES 6,245
$10.32MX$179
8.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52VES 851
$1.71MX$29.67
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02VES 1,128
$2.58MX$44.63
-21.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08VES 2,837
$3.26MX$56.5
55.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67VES 1,494
$2.49MX$43.17
7.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.03VES 5,604
$3.25MX$56.3
208.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48VES 269
$1.31MX$22.65
-63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KVES 14.0M
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-17.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KVES 22.4M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
70.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.43VES 11.4K
$82.9MX$1,436
-75.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.22VES 7,390
$22.22MX$385
-40.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56VES 22.1K
$29.34MX$508
34.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$895
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.86VES 3,276
$5.07MX$87.8
15.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$132VES 73.6K
$201MX$3,480
-34.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,504VES 3.1M
$5,212MX$90.3K
5.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0VES 35.2K
$36.92MX$640
70.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73VES 21.6K
$39.79MX$689
-2.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104VES 57.9K
$78.5MX$1,360
31.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116VES 65.0K
$87.1MX$1,509
33.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,105
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$638VES 356.6K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-90.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.33
11.42
86.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acarigua: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Acarigua vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $282 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Acarigua vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Acarigua?
Acarigua is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,061 in Acarigua and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Acarigua and Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Acarigua vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $707 per month in Acarigua versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Acarigua or Playa del Carmen?
At $707 in Acarigua versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Acarigua but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Acarigua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Acarigua or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Acarigua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Acarigua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.