Cost of Living Comparison Between Aguadilla and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Aguadilla and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,070 per month in Aguadilla vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,765 per month in Aguadilla vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in Aguadilla vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Aguadilla is about 17% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aguadilla and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Aguadilla 20% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.07 $15.07

$11.73 MX$203

28.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 $65.7

$41.62 MX$720

57.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 $8.69

$10.64 MX$184

-18.33%

Cappuccino

$2.73 $2.73

$3.52 MX$60.9

-22.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.51 MX$26.12

13.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.97 MX$16.84

49.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.95 MX$51.0

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.45 MX$77.0

-9.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.38 MX$23.93

39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.89 MX$32.72

81.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.64 MX$28.32

38.41%

Eggs

$5.86 $5.86

$2.51 MX$43.34

133.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.34 MX$144

6.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.24 $8.24

$8.34 MX$144

-1.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$10.73 MX$186

20.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$2.60 MX$45.04

121.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.46 MX$25.20

89.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$1.90 MX$32.87

106.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.08 MX$35.91

94.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.78 MX$30.71

120.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.19 MX$37.80

40.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.04 MX$17.99

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.08 MX$18.62

85.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.20 $12.20

$4.08 MX$70.6

199.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 $15.83

$10.32 MX$178

53.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.71 MX$29.61

49.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.58 MX$44.54

22.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.49 MX$43.09

-41.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.94 $14.94

$3.25 MX$56.2

359.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.31 MX$22.61

-23.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K $35.7K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

17.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

13.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 $122

$82.9 MX$1,433

47.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$78.9 $78.9

$22.22 MX$384

255.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$29.34 MX$507

151.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.02 $35.02

$51.6 MX$893

-32.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 $11.17

$5.07 MX$87.6

120.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$471 $471

$201 MX$3,473

134.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K $10.5K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

101.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.45 $46.45

$36.92 MX$639

25.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 $57.2

$39.79 MX$688

43.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 $89.8

$78.5 MX$1,357

14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$87.1 MX$1,506

22.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 $2,021

$1,641 MX$28.4K

23.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,352 $1,352

$664 MX$11.5K

103.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

11.42

-50.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aguadilla: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 104% higher in Aguadilla, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Aguadilla versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Aguadilla vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,605 per month in Aguadilla and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Aguadilla and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 52% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aguadilla, where all-in costs run around $1,070, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Aguadilla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aguadilla – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aguadilla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.