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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Albertville vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,814 per month in Albertville vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,891 per month in Albertville vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Albertville costs about 38% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Albertville sits 30% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.55
$11.99 MX$210
38.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €56.6
$41.78 MX$731
55.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.76 €11.15
$10.75 MX$188
18.70%
Cappuccino
$3.89 €3.40
$3.50 MX$61.1
11.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.50
$1.45 MX$25.33
97.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.88 MX$15.47
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.99 €6.98
$2.95 MX$51.6
170.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00 €6.12
$4.51 MX$78.9
55.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 €0.86
$1.43 MX$25.04
-31.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 €2.32
$1.84 MX$32.13
44.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.54 €2.22
$1.57 MX$27.42
61.78%
Eggs
$4.26 €3.72
$2.51 MX$43.92
69.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.02 €15.74
$8.28 MX$145
117.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.94 €13.92
$8.43 MX$147
89.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.27 €22.08
$10.68 MX$187
136.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$2.61 MX$45.62
-9.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.19
$1.44 MX$25.15
74.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 €3.14
$1.96 MX$34.31
83.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 €3.48
$2.09 MX$36.62
90.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 €2.43
$1.85 MX$32.37
50.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 €2.39
$2.17 MX$37.90
26.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.29
$1.03 MX$18.04
42.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 €0.42
$1.07 MX$18.78
-55.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 €12.08
$4.10 MX$71.7
237.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.01 €7.00
$10.17 MX$178
-21.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 €2.82
$1.68 MX$29.29
91.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 €2.73
$2.53 MX$44.17
23.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 €1.77
$0.51 MX$8.90
296.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.24 €42.14
$26.04 MX$455
85.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 €5.18
$3.23 MX$56.5
83.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 €1.59
$2.41 MX$42.06
-24.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$58.4 €51.1
$3.23 MX$56.5
1709.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 €1.84
$1.32 MX$23.10
59.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K €33.2K
$29.7K MX$519.2K
27.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K €33.1K
$23.7K MX$413.7K
60.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €247
$82.0 MX$1,434
244.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.58 €19.73
$22.95 MX$401
-1.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.12 €32.43
$30.11 MX$527
23.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.08 €32.40
$52.0 MX$909
-28.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.06 €15.78
$18.53 MX$324
-2.54%
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 €6.88
$4.98 MX$87.0
58.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$749 €655
$197 MX$3,452
279.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$5,336 MX$93.3K
122.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 €49.75
$35.60 MX$622
59.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.58 €40.69
$40.33 MX$705
15.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €108
$78.8 MX$1,377
56.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 €143
$88.9 MX$1,555
83.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$781 €682
$947 MX$16.6K
-17.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 €365
$474 MX$8,288
-11.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 €1,225
$1,644 MX$28.7K
-14.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 €966
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-8.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,958 €3,458
$4,056 MX$70.9K
-2.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,612 €2,282
$6,470 MX$113.1K
-59.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Albertville
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,430 €4,744
$654 MX$11.4K
730.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.76
11.42
-67.08%

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

Last update for Albertville: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Albertville versus $947 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 730% higher in Albertville, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Albertville versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 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
Albertville vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Albertville or Playa del Carmen?
Albertville costs about 38% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Albertville and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,607 per month in Albertville and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Albertville or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Albertville or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Albertville, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Albertville and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Albertville and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Albertville or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Albertville at $1,738. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Albertville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Albertville or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,738 in Albertville. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Albertville compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Albertville or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Albertville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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