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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,751 per month in Ahuachapan vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,900 per month in Ahuachapan vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,049 per month in Ahuachapan vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ahuachapan costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ahuachapan sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.17 $8.17

$11.73 MX$203

-30.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.40 $35.40

$41.62 MX$720

-14.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 $6.92

$10.64 MX$184

-34.96%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$3.52 MX$60.9

-6.82%

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

$1.09 $1.09

$1.51 MX$26.12

-27.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.97 MX$16.84

-5.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.95 MX$51.0

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$4.45 MX$77.0

-33.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.38 MX$23.93

34.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.89 MX$32.72

4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.64 MX$28.32

-4.88%

Eggs

$2.80 $2.80

$2.51 MX$43.34

11.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$8.34 MX$144

-14.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$8.34 MX$144

-19.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$10.73 MX$186

3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.60 MX$45.04

23.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.46 MX$25.20

14.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.90 MX$32.87

32.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.08 MX$35.91

31.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.78 MX$30.71

20.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.19 MX$37.80

-3.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.04 MX$17.99

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.08 MX$18.62

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 $3.90

$4.08 MX$70.6

-4.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.15 $11.15

$10.32 MX$178

8.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.71 MX$29.61

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.58 MX$44.54

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.53 $5.53

$3.26 MX$56.4

69.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.49 MX$43.09

25.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.95 $19.95

$3.25 MX$56.2

513.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.31 MX$22.61

-24.43%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-16.82%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

18.50%

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

$101 $101

$82.9 MX$1,433

22.25%

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

$18.94 $18.94

$22.22 MX$384

-14.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.26 $41.26

$29.34 MX$507

40.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.26 $5.26

$5.07 MX$87.6

3.75%

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

$146 $146

$201 MX$3,473

-27.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,884 $5,884

$5,212 MX$90.1K

12.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 $66.5

$36.92 MX$639

80.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.79 $43.79

$39.79 MX$688

10.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$78.5 MX$1,357

48.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$87.1 MX$1,506

19.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 $524

$973 MX$16.8K

-46.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 $1,007

$468 MX$8,090

115.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 $373

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-77.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 $397

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-67.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,110 $3,110

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-21.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,310 $1,310

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-79.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$566 $566

$664 MX$11.5K

-14.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

11.42

-24.87%

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

Last update for Ahuachapan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Ahuachapan versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $35.00 in Ahuachapan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Ahuachapan vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,751 in Ahuachapan, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 35% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,626 per month in Ahuachapan and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,751 in Ahuachapan and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Ahuachapan and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Ahuachapan at $1,751. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,751 in Ahuachapan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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