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 $1,047 per month in Aguadilla vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,718 per month in Aguadilla vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,389 per month in Aguadilla vs $3,017 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 22% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.97 $14.97

$11.99 MX$210

24.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 $64.7

$41.78 MX$731

54.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 $8.47

$10.75 MX$188

-21.21%

Cappuccino

$2.71 $2.71

$3.50 MX$61.1

-22.57%

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

$1.76 $1.76

$1.45 MX$25.33

21.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.88 MX$15.47

64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.95 MX$51.6

2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.51 MX$78.9

-9.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.43 MX$25.04

30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.84 MX$32.13

91.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.57 MX$27.42

38.85%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$2.51 MX$43.92

133.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.28 MX$145

6.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$8.43 MX$147

2.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 $12.81

$10.68 MX$187

19.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.61 MX$45.62

124.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.44 MX$25.15

84.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.96 MX$34.31

96.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.09 MX$36.62

98.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.85 MX$32.37

112.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.17 MX$37.90

39.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.03 MX$18.04

203.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.07 MX$18.78

85.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.88 $11.88

$4.10 MX$71.7

189.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.52 $15.52

$10.17 MX$178

52.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.68 MX$29.29

47.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.53 MX$44.17

27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.41 MX$42.06

-37.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.94 $14.94

$3.23 MX$56.5

362.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.32 MX$23.10

-29.55%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

19.81%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

11.15%

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

$118 $118

$82.0 MX$1,434

44.43%

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

$80.0 $80.0

$22.95 MX$401

248.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$30.11 MX$527

144.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.67 $34.67

$52.0 MX$909

-33.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 $11.16

$4.98 MX$87.0

124.10%

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

$477 $477

$197 MX$3,452

141.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

$5,336 MX$93.3K

94.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.29 $45.29

$35.60 MX$622

27.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 $56.0

$40.33 MX$705

38.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 $90.1

$78.8 MX$1,377

14.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$88.9 MX$1,555

17.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,288

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,978 $1,978

$1,644 MX$28.7K

20.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,360 $1,360

$654 MX$11.4K

108.04%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 108% 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 $65.0 in Aguadilla versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 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 20%, 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 $1,570 per month in Aguadilla and $1,884 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 $65.0 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 53% 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 $1,047, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.