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 $1,055 per month in Aguadilla vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,730 per month in Aguadilla vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,406 per month in Aguadilla vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Aguadilla is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Aguadilla and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Aguadilla 23% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.79 $11.79

$11.71 MX$199

0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 $60.2

$46.59 MX$791

29.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.05 $9.05

$11.65 MX$198

-22.32%

Cappuccino

$1.53 $1.53

$4.09 MX$69.5

-62.59%

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

$1.26 $1.26

$1.37 MX$23.34

-8.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.83 MX$14.16

22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.35 MX$56.9

-11.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 $3.92

$6.91 MX$117

-43.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.73 MX$29.33

10.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.26 MX$38.39

60.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.77 MX$30.05

36.72%

Eggs

$7.36 $7.36

$2.73 MX$46.41

169.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 $12.72

$9.18 MX$156

38.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.41 $9.41

$8.92 MX$151

5.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$12.60 MX$214

5.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.02 MX$51.3

69.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.57 MX$26.68

63.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.13 MX$36.10

124.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.26 MX$38.46

107.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.00 MX$34.04

88.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.06 MX$35.06

91.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.18 MX$20.04

188.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.20 MX$20.45

36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 $11.83

$4.63 MX$78.7

155.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.80 $15.80

$10.69 MX$182

47.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.62 MX$27.50

85.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.88 MX$48.93

42.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$507

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$5.45 MX$92.5

-54.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$3.70 MX$62.9

-60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.54 $42.54

$5.98 MX$102

611.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.55 MX$26.38

-33.55%

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

$40.3K $40.3K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

80.44%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

9.06%

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

$119 $119

$89.1 MX$1,514

33.61%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$25.04 MX$425

177.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$31.50 MX$535

121.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.44 $35.44

$67.8 MX$1,151

-47.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$10.71 $10.71

$5.05 MX$85.8

112.08%

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

$824 $824

$225 MX$3,820

266.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K $12.7K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

200.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$47.44 MX$806

19.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 $60.6

$44.98 MX$764

34.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$82.0 MX$1,392

31.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$92.1 MX$1,564

21.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,884

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 $1,999

$1,935 MX$32.9K

3.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,374 $1,374

$749 MX$12.7K

83.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.45

-42.79%

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

Last update for Aguadilla: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 83% 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 $60.0 in Aguadilla versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $277 – 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 23%, 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 $1,583 per month in Aguadilla and $1,940 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 $60.0 in Aguadilla and $47.00 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 48% 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 $1,055, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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.