Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Aliso Viejo, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,265 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 203% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA is 185% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.06 $25.06

$11.95 MX$208

109.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$41.94 MX$730

137.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 $11.07

$10.42 MX$181

6.24%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$3.51 MX$61.2

58.69%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$1.52 MX$26.39

88.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.91 MX$15.84

147.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.65 $8.65

$3.04 MX$52.9

184.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 $8.92

$4.37 MX$76.1

104.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.42 MX$24.73

-16.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.83 MX$31.87

135.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.63 MX$28.45

180.37%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.54 MX$44.20

72.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 $12.35

$8.57 MX$149

44.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$8.49 MX$148

38.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 $14.30

$10.80 MX$188

32.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$2.75 MX$47.94

137.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.44 MX$25.00

31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.89 MX$32.83

100.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.17 MX$37.77

124.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.78 MX$30.97

70.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.22 MX$38.71

10.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.07 MX$18.60

78.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.08 MX$18.79

91.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$4.15 MX$72.2

153.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.07 $15.07

$10.45 MX$182

44.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.74 MX$30.34

5.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.58 MX$44.92

22.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.51 MX$8.94

482.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.21 MX$55.9

23.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.50 MX$43.55

-16.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.68 $29.68

$3.19 MX$55.4

830.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.26 MX$21.87

2.38%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$29.7K MX$516.6K

-5.30%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.7K MX$412.1K

11.82%

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

$183 $183

$82.0 MX$1,427

122.50%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$22.73 MX$395

143.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$29.42 MX$512

139.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.32 $49.32

$52.2 MX$908

-5.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$18.21 $18.21

$4.93 MX$85.9

269.37%

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

$1,786 $1,786

$202 MX$3,511

785.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$5,217 MX$90.8K

359.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 $61.7

$35.93 MX$625

71.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.37 $46.37

$40.33 MX$702

14.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$79.9 MX$1,390

26.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$89.3 MX$1,554

68.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,847 $2,847

$948 MX$16.5K

200.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$465 MX$8,097

442.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,134 $4,134

$1,630 MX$28.4K

153.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,160 $4,160

$1,193 MX$20.8K

248.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,973 $6,973

$3,933 MX$68.4K

77.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,462 $6,462

$6,428 MX$111.9K

0.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,045 $8,045

$658 MX$11.5K

1122.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

11.42

-43.17%

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

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 1122% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Aliso Viejo, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Aliso Viejo, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aliso Viejo, CA and Playa del Carmen differ by about 203% in total monthly costs ($3,813 vs $1,259 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1122% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,847 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,813 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – a 203% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,813 in Aliso Viejo, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Aliso Viejo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Aliso Viejo, CA and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 203% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.