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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Anaco vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $725 per month in Anaco vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $993 per month in Anaco vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Anaco is about 65% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Anaco and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Anaco 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.19 VES 6,795

$11.73 MX$203

3.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$0.82 VES 459

$3.52 MX$60.9

-76.70%

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

$1.19 VES 665

$1.51 MX$26.12

-21.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 VES 321

$0.97 MX$16.84

-40.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 VES 507

$2.95 MX$51.0

-69.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 VES 968

$1.38 MX$23.93

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 VES 628

$1.64 MX$28.32

-31.10%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 VES 1,998

$8.34 MX$144

-56.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 VES 4,481

$10.73 MX$186

-25.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 VES 838

$2.08 MX$35.91

-27.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 VES 872

$1.78 MX$30.71

-11.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 VES 565

$1.08 MX$18.62

-6.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 VES 688

$1.71 MX$29.61

-28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 VES 879

$2.58 MX$44.54

-38.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 VES 174

$0.51 MX$8.81

-39.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 VES 1,631

$3.26 MX$56.4

-10.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 285

$1.31 MX$22.61

-61.07%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.93 VES 21.1K

$29.34 MX$507

29.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.57 VES 24.8K

$51.6 MX$893

-13.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.12 VES 6,755

$18.32 MX$317

-33.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 VES 3,290

$5.07 MX$87.6

16.37%

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

$44.45 VES 24.8K

$201 MX$3,473

-77.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.83 VES 25.0K

$36.92 MX$639

21.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 VES 21.2K

$39.79 MX$688

-4.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.71 VES 24.9K

$78.5 MX$1,357

-43.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.65 VES 22.1K

$87.1 MX$1,506

-54.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$110 VES 61.1K

$973 MX$16.8K

-88.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.8 VES 38.3K

$468 MX$8,090

-85.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$253 VES 141.1K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-84.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 VES 99.3K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-85.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$236 VES 131.4K

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-94.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$172 VES 96.0K

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-97.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Anaco: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $110 in Anaco versus $973 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.

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

Anaco vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 183%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $686 per month in Anaco and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Anaco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $44.45 per month in Anaco and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Anaco, where all-in costs run around $457, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Anaco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Anaco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Anaco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.