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

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 56.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 26.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Alajuela is 37% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.11 ₡4,940

$11.58 MX$212

-12.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.49 ₡19.8K

$42 MX$769

-3.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.4 ₡4,592

$10.5 MX$192

-10.48%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₡1,794

$3.43 MX$62.8

7.00%

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

$2 ₡977

$1.49 MX$27.34

34.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₡652

$0.94 MX$17.27

41.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ₡1,061

$3.08 MX$56.3

-29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,774

$4.37 MX$79.9

-16.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₡947

$1.39 MX$25.44

39.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₡1,188

$1.85 MX$33.81

31.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,043

$1.58 MX$28.88

35.44%

Eggs

$2.23 ₡1,087

$2.51 MX$46

-11.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 ₡4,810

$8.26 MX$151

19.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 ₡4,428

$8.7 MX$159

4.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 ₡6,661

$10.73 MX$196

27.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 ₡1,939

$2.61 MX$47.74

52.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡718

$1.49 MX$27.28

-1.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡2,035

$1.95 MX$35.72

113.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 ₡1,398

$2.09 MX$38.26

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ₡1,412

$1.81 MX$33.05

59.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 ₡1,294

$2.16 MX$39.62

22.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡502

$1.03 MX$18.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,227

$1.08 MX$19.7

132.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 ₡2,379

$4.14 MX$75.9

17.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.96 ₡8,775

$8.88 MX$163

102.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡1,063

$1.67 MX$30.64

30.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ₡1,250

$2.53 MX$46.31

1.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₡432

$0.51 MX$9.27

72.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 ₡54K

$26.68 MX$488

314.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 ₡679

$3.26 MX$59.7

-57.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.3 ₡633

$2.51 MX$45.94

-48.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 ₡3,839

$3.12 MX$57.2

151.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₡693

$1.31 MX$23.96

8.40%

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

$37.5K ₡18.3M

$30.9K MX$565K

21.63%

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

$32.2K ₡15.7M

$23.9K MX$436.9K

34.86%

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

$45 ₡22K

$83 MX$1,520

-45.80%

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

$20.03 ₡9,787

$22.59 MX$414

-11.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.28 ₡15.8K

$29.51 MX$540

9.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.4 ₡31.9K

$51.6 MX$944

26.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.3 ₡21.2K

$18.42 MX$337

135.07%

Cinema Ticket

$9 ₡4,396

$4.9 MX$89.7

83.67%

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

$298 ₡145.4K

$200 MX$3,668

48.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 ₡1.2M

$5,179 MX$94.8K

-54.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62 ₡30.3K

$36.41 MX$667

70.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡25.2K

$39.91 MX$731

29.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₡58.9K

$79.9 MX$1,462

51.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 ₡48.1K

$87.7 MX$1,605

12.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 ₡341.5K

$983 MX$18K

-28.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡295.7K

$470 MX$8,612

28.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 ₡490K

$1,610 MX$29.5K

-37.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$926 ₡452.6K

$1,189 MX$21.8K

-22.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,058 ₡1M

$3,839 MX$70.3K

-46.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ₡744.2K

$6,205 MX$113.6K

-75.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,207 ₡589.7K

$724 MX$13.2K

66.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

11.42

-10.95%

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

Last update for Alajuela: November 30, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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