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: $3,988 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,035 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,083 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 208% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA is 190% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.95 $24.95

$11.71 MX$198

113.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$46.59 MX$786

117.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.14 $14.14

$11.65 MX$197

21.37%

Cappuccino

$6.43 $6.43

$4.09 MX$69.1

57.21%

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

$3.30 $3.30

$1.37 MX$23.20

140.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$0.83 MX$14.07

245.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$3.35 MX$56.6

140.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.20 $12.20

$6.91 MX$117

76.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.73 MX$29.15

-34.10%

White Bread (500g)

$5.44 $5.44

$2.26 MX$38.15

140.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$1.77 MX$29.86

172.88%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.73 MX$46.12

86.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.55 $12.55

$9.18 MX$155

36.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.22 $14.22

$8.92 MX$151

59.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.76 $17.76

$12.60 MX$213

40.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$3.02 MX$51.0

80.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.57 MX$26.51

13.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.13 MX$35.88

102.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.26 MX$38.22

184.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.00 MX$33.82

84.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.06 MX$34.85

25.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.18 MX$19.91

87.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.20 MX$20.32

85.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 $11.83

$4.63 MX$78.2

155.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$10.69 MX$180

39.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.62 MX$27.33

9.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.88 MX$48.63

10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$0.57 MX$9.68

417.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.45 MX$91.9

-17.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.70 MX$62.5

-42.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.91 $27.91

$5.98 MX$101

366.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.55 MX$26.22

-1.94%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.3K MX$376.8K

62.72%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.9K MX$438.0K

1.20%

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

$212 $212

$89.1 MX$1,504

137.31%

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

$72.3 $72.3

$25.04 MX$423

188.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$31.50 MX$532

129.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.57 $39.57

$67.8 MX$1,144

-41.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$17.82 $17.82

$5.05 MX$85.2

252.87%

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

$1,950 $1,950

$225 MX$3,797

766.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.7K $35.7K

$4,222 MX$71.3K

746.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 $71.2

$47.44 MX$801

50.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 $57.8

$44.98 MX$759

28.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$82.0 MX$1,384

36.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$92.1 MX$1,555

56.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,898 $2,898

$1,069 MX$18.0K

171.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 $2,490

$405 MX$6,842

514.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,204 $4,204

$1,935 MX$32.7K

117.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,602 $4,602

$1,301 MX$22.0K

253.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,127 $7,127

$3,995 MX$67.4K

78.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,582 $6,582

$6,626 MX$111.8K

-0.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,034 $8,034

$749 MX$12.6K

973.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

11.45

-43.06%

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

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,898 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 973% 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: $101 in Aliso Viejo, CA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $277 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 208% in total monthly costs ($3,988 vs $1,293 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 973% 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: $2,898 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,988 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 208% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,988 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 208% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.