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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Algarve is 14.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 51.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Algarve is 42.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 โ‚ฌ13.58
$11.99 MX$227
31.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1 โ‚ฌ55.3
$42.47 MX$803
50.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 โ‚ฌ8.62
$10.47 MX$198
-4.68%
Cappuccino
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.2
$3.6 MX$68.2
-29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.7
$1.44 MX$27.16
36.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 โ‚ฌ1.28
$0.89 MX$16.79
67.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 โ‚ฌ2.97
$3.09 MX$58.5
11.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 โ‚ฌ2.79
$4.58 MX$86.6
-29.48%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 โ‚ฌ0.98
$1.38 MX$26.04
-17.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 โ‚ฌ1.1
$1.85 MX$34.9
-30.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.4 โ‚ฌ1.21
$1.57 MX$29.68
-10.83%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.74
$2.55 MX$48.3
24.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.21 โ‚ฌ11.4
$8.61 MX$163
53.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.05 โ‚ฌ6.95
$8.54 MX$161
-5.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 โ‚ฌ13.69
$10.98 MX$208
44.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.97
$2.72 MX$51.4
-15.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.24
$1.51 MX$28.57
-5.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 โ‚ฌ1.42
$1.88 MX$35.63
-12.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.5 โ‚ฌ2.16
$2.19 MX$41.42
14.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.24
$1.87 MX$35.3
-23.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.9 โ‚ฌ1.64
$2.19 MX$41.37
-13.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 โ‚ฌ1.7
$1.07 MX$20.23
83.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 โ‚ฌ0.67
$1.09 MX$20.64
-29.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 โ‚ฌ5.4
$3.96 MX$74.9
58.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.53 โ‚ฌ5.64
$8.86 MX$167
-26.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 โ‚ฌ0.93
$1.72 MX$32.53
-37.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 โ‚ฌ0.89
$2.61 MX$49.37
-60.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.23 โ‚ฌ2.79
$0.52 MX$9.74
521.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.23 โ‚ฌ36.46
$26.59 MX$503
58.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 โ‚ฌ3.58
$3.24 MX$61.2
28.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.8 โ‚ฌ0.69
$2.38 MX$44.94
-66.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.94 โ‚ฌ16.35
$3.11 MX$58.7
509.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 โ‚ฌ1.69
$1.31 MX$24.85
48.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K โ‚ฌ29.7K
$30.3K MX$573K
13.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K โ‚ฌ34.4K
$24K MX$453.6K
66.11%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 โ‚ฌ130
$84.2 MX$1,592
78.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.42 โ‚ฌ17.63
$22.14 MX$419
-7.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.21 โ‚ฌ34.72
$30.14 MX$570
33.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.29 โ‚ฌ33.06
$52 MX$983
-26.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14 โ‚ฌ25.16
$18.72 MX$354
55.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38 โ‚ฌ8.1
$5.07 MX$95.9
85.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 โ‚ฌ529
$200 MX$3,787
206.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16K โ‚ฌ13.8K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
200.61%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 โ‚ฌ87.4
$35.74 MX$676
183.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.82 โ‚ฌ36.11
$39.8 MX$753
5.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.5 โ‚ฌ69.5
$79 MX$1,493
1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.6 โ‚ฌ59.2
$88.4 MX$1,671
-22.36%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,164 โ‚ฌ1,005
$965 MX$18.3K
20.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$973 โ‚ฌ840
$474 MX$8,968
105.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,111 โ‚ฌ1,823
$1,653 MX$31.2K
27.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 โ‚ฌ815
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-21.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,718 โ‚ฌ2,347
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-11.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,203 โ‚ฌ1,902
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-70.74%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Algarve
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,071 โ‚ฌ925
$792 MX$15K
35.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.42
-66.64%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Algarve: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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