🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $794 in Acarigua versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,401 in Acarigua versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,009 in Acarigua versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Acarigua costs roughly 37% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acarigua42% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.89VES 9,147
$11.60MX$199
-6.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1VES 57.2K
$47.11MX$808
44.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.11VES 9,338
$11.88MX$204
-6.48%
Cappuccino
$3.70VES 3,105
$3.98MX$68.2
-7.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49VES 1,255
$1.43MX$24.46
4.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29VES 1,084
$0.82MX$14.14
57.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97VES 1,653
$3.19MX$54.7
-38.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94VES 2,474
$6.79MX$116
-56.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.68VES 2,249
$1.68MX$28.72
59.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26VES 1,898
$2.20MX$37.67
2.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81VES 1,522
$1.71MX$29.29
5.85%
Eggs
$4.84VES 4,064
$2.74MX$46.99
76.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.24VES 8,599
$9.58MX$164
6.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.18VES 7,715
$9.01MX$154
1.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50VES 9,664
$12.81MX$220
-10.23%
Apples(1kg)
$7.08VES 5,948
$2.89MX$49.52
144.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95VES 1,639
$1.50MX$25.67
30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11VES 1,775
$2.15MX$36.83
-1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37VES 1,993
$2.26MX$38.74
4.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39VES 2,009
$1.98MX$33.96
20.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17VES 1,819
$1.99MX$34.11
9.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62VES 1,359
$1.23MX$21.16
31.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31VES 1,942
$1.20MX$20.52
92.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.56VES 3,827
$4.55MX$78.0
0.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.90VES 10,000
$10.37MX$178
14.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42VES 1,195
$1.62MX$27.76
-12.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14VES 1,802
$2.88MX$49.39
-25.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.29
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$494
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13VES 4,310
$5.39MX$92.4
-4.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76VES 2,321
$3.73MX$63.9
-26.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.26VES 12.8K
$5.77MX$98.9
164.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80VES 674
$1.54MX$26.34
-48.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KVES 21.3M
$22.5KMX$386.6K
12.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KVES 31.6M
$26.1KMX$446.7K
44.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.44VES 19.7K
$91.4MX$1,567
-74.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.70VES 9,830
$25.20MX$432
-53.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.09VES 30.3K
$31.24MX$536
15.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,152
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$499
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.62VES 5,564
$4.86MX$83.4
36.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160VES 134.3K
$224MX$3,834
-28.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,027VES 5.1M
$4,229MX$72.5K
42.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.5VES 61.7K
$47.10MX$808
55.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.52VES 39.1K
$44.29MX$759
5.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125VES 105.3K
$80.1MX$1,373
56.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140VES 117.4K
$92.7MX$1,589
50.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,690
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$36.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$634VES 532.2K
$6,502MX$111.5K
-90.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22
11.45
92.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acarigua: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Acarigua vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $276 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,191 in Acarigua and $1,899 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Acarigua and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $794 per month in Acarigua versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Acarigua or in Playa del Carmen?
At $794 in Acarigua versus $1,266 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 59% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.