🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $713 in Acarigua versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,229 in Acarigua versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,744 in Acarigua versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Acarigua costs roughly 43% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acarigua47% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.23VES 8,988
$11.99MX$210
2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8VES 40.3K
$41.78MX$733
31.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.04VES 7,383
$10.75MX$189
-6.60%
Cappuccino
$2.59VES 1,907
$3.50MX$61.3
-26.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32VES 969
$1.45MX$25.41
-8.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02VES 746
$0.88MX$15.52
15.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53VES 1,126
$2.95MX$51.7
-48.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93VES 2,157
$4.51MX$79.1
-35.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82VES 1,340
$1.43MX$25.12
27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71VES 1,991
$1.84MX$32.23
47.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43VES 1,053
$1.57MX$27.51
-8.92%
Eggs
$2.84VES 2,091
$2.51MX$44.06
13.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74VES 7,160
$8.28MX$145
17.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.51VES 5,523
$8.43MX$148
-10.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60VES 5,590
$10.68MX$187
-28.84%
Apples(1kg)
$5.37VES 3,951
$2.61MX$45.76
105.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78VES 1,311
$1.44MX$25.22
23.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27VES 1,672
$1.96MX$34.41
15.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97VES 1,451
$2.09MX$36.74
-5.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55VES 1,876
$1.85MX$32.47
37.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08VES 1,528
$2.17MX$38.02
-4.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31VES 964
$1.03MX$18.09
27.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95VES 1,435
$1.07MX$18.84
82.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95VES 2,901
$4.10MX$72.0
-3.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.18VES 8,952
$10.17MX$178
19.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53VES 1,122
$1.68MX$29.38
-8.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97VES 1,449
$2.53MX$44.31
-22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.12VES 3,764
$3.23MX$56.7
58.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.75VES 2,021
$2.41MX$42.19
14.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.92VES 7,289
$3.23MX$56.6
207.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49VES 359
$1.32MX$23.17
-62.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KVES 18.6M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-15.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KVES 29.1M
$23.7KMX$415.0K
67.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.45VES 15.0K
$82.0MX$1,439
-75.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.09VES 9,622
$22.95MX$403
-42.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.32VES 28.9K
$30.11MX$528
30.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.0MX$912
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01VES 4,418
$4.98MX$87.3
20.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134VES 98.8K
$197MX$3,463
-31.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,554VES 4.1M
$5,336MX$93.6K
4.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7VES 46.9K
$35.60MX$624
79.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.61VES 28.4K
$40.33MX$707
-4.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102VES 75.2K
$78.8MX$1,381
29.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117VES 85.9K
$88.9MX$1,560
31.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$947MX$16.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$474MX$8,314
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,644MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,211MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641VES 470.9K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-90.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acarigua
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 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 $285 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,070 in Acarigua and $1,884 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 15% 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 $713 per month in Acarigua versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 76% 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 $713 in Acarigua versus $1,256 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 76% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.