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: $3,845 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,573 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,301 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Aliso Viejo, CA is roughly 197% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aliso Viejo, CA is 187% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.44 $25.44

$11.73 MX$205

116.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$41.62 MX$727

143.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$10.64 MX$186

5.26%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.52 MX$61.5

57.39%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$1.51 MX$26.37

90.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.97 MX$17.00

139.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.73 $8.73

$2.95 MX$51.5

195.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

$4.45 MX$77.8

102.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.38 MX$24.16

-11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.89 MX$33.04

132.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.64 MX$28.59

190.85%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.51 MX$43.76

81.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 $12.33

$8.34 MX$146

47.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.68 $11.68

$8.34 MX$146

40.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 $14.35

$10.73 MX$187

33.74%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$2.60 MX$45.48

142.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.46 MX$25.45

32.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.90 MX$33.19

98.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$2.08 MX$36.26

131.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.78 MX$31.01

72.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.19 MX$38.16

15.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.04 MX$18.16

75.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.08 MX$18.80

87.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 $10.54

$4.08 MX$71.3

158.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$10.32 MX$180

43.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.71 MX$29.90

5.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.58 MX$44.98

20.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 $2.96

$0.51 MX$8.90

480.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.26 MX$57.0

26.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.49 MX$43.51

-15.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 $29.15

$3.25 MX$56.7

796.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.31 MX$22.83

-4.58%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$30.3K MX$528.8K

-6.81%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

15.26%

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

$185 $185

$82.9 MX$1,447

122.86%

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

$55.0 $55.0

$22.22 MX$388

147.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$29.34 MX$512

137.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.60 $49.60

$51.6 MX$902

-3.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$18.26 $18.26

$5.07 MX$88.5

260.16%

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

$1,793 $1,793

$201 MX$3,507

792.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

355.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 $62.5

$36.92 MX$645

69.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.63 $46.63

$39.79 MX$695

17.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 $100.0

$78.5 MX$1,370

27.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$87.1 MX$1,521

71.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,807 $2,807

$973 MX$17.0K

188.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,493 $2,493

$468 MX$8,169

433.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,054 $4,054

$1,641 MX$28.7K

147.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,281 $4,281

$1,221 MX$21.3K

250.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,234 $7,234

$3,946 MX$68.9K

83.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,542 $6,542

$6,498 MX$113.5K

0.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,977 $7,977

$664 MX$11.6K

1101.56%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 1102% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $249 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 197% in total monthly costs ($3,845 vs $1,297 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 1102% more on average, 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: $2,807 in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $973 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 $3,845 per month in Aliso Viejo, CA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 197% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,845 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 197% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.