😐A single person spends $1,709 per month in Alghero vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,676 per month in Alghero vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,643 per month in Alghero vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Alghero costs about 36% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Alghero sits 28% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.30€19.53
$11.99MX$209
85.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.3€82.6
$41.78MX$728
125.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91€9.55
$10.75MX$187
1.49%
Cappuccino
$1.84€1.61
$3.50MX$60.9
-47.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.45MX$25.22
104.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.24
$0.88MX$15.41
60.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.69€4.98
$2.95MX$51.3
92.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.12
$4.51MX$78.6
-20.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64€1.44
$1.43MX$24.94
14.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.32€2.03
$1.84MX$31.99
26.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31€2.90
$1.57MX$27.31
110.83%
Eggs
$3.33€2.91
$2.51MX$43.74
32.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.95€14.85
$8.28MX$144
104.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.18€11.54
$8.43MX$147
56.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.20€16.81
$10.68MX$186
79.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.20
$2.61MX$45.43
-3.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.44MX$25.04
18.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27€1.99
$1.96MX$34.16
15.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71€3.25
$2.09MX$36.47
77.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91€1.68
$1.85MX$32.24
3.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.79
$2.17MX$37.74
-5.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40€1.22
$1.03MX$17.96
35.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59€0.52
$1.07MX$18.70
-44.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.67€5.84
$4.10MX$71.4
62.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91€6.93
$10.17MX$177
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.45
$1.68MX$29.17
-1.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$2.53MX$43.98
-43.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.54
$0.51MX$8.87
245.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.09€37.74
$26.04MX$453
65.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49€3.05
$3.23MX$56.3
8.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.98
$2.41MX$41.88
-53.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.86€26.15
$3.23MX$56.2
824.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.85
$1.32MX$23.00
59.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K€27.7K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K€30.6K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
47.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175€153
$82.0MX$1,428
113.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.36€11.70
$22.95MX$400
-41.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.07€27.21
$30.11MX$524
3.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5€47.72
$52.0MX$905
4.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.28€20.39
$18.53MX$323
25.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.39€8.23
$4.98MX$86.6
88.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$448€392
$197MX$3,438
126.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,841€6,867
$5,336MX$92.9K
46.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1€61.4
$35.60MX$620
96.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5€55.6
$40.33MX$702
57.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0€75.3
$78.8MX$1,371
9.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€102
$88.9MX$1,549
30.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$634€555
$947MX$16.5K
-33.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589€516
$474MX$8,254
24.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229€1,077
$1,644MX$28.6K
-25.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$927€812
$1,211MX$21.1K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952€2,585
$4,056MX$70.6K
-27.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,075€1,817
$6,470MX$112.7K
-67.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alghero
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,009€1,760
$654MX$11.4K
207.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
11.42
-57.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alghero: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $634 in Alghero 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 207% higher in Alghero, 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 $94.0 in Alghero versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 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
Alghero vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alghero or Playa del Carmen?
Alghero costs about 36% 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 Alghero and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,563 per month in Alghero 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, Alghero 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.
How do dining costs compare in Alghero and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Alghero and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Alghero compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,709 in Alghero and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Alghero 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 Alghero at $1,709. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alghero it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alghero or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,709 in Alghero. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Alghero 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 Alghero 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, Alghero makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.