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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $968 in Anapa versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,550 in Anapa versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,132 in Anapa versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Anapa costs roughly 23% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Anapa 28% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 ₽795
$11.99 MX$210
-15.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3 ₽4,184
$41.78 MX$733
27.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 ₽628
$10.75 MX$189
-25.58%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ₽279
$3.50 MX$61.3
1.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₽100
$1.45 MX$25.41
-11.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₽77.7
$0.88 MX$15.52
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ₽111
$2.95 MX$51.7
-51.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19 ₽408
$4.51 MX$79.1
15.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ₽97.8
$1.43 MX$25.12
-12.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 ₽54.8
$1.84 MX$32.23
-61.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₽56.9
$1.57 MX$27.51
-54.14%
Eggs
$1.94 ₽153
$2.51 MX$44.06
-22.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 ₽1,092
$8.28 MX$145
68.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.04 ₽396
$8.43 MX$148
-40.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.70 ₽683
$10.68 MX$187
-18.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ₽143
$2.61 MX$45.76
-30.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₽127
$1.44 MX$25.22
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 ₽184
$1.96 MX$34.41
19.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 ₽214
$2.09 MX$36.74
30.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₽67.6
$1.85 MX$32.47
-53.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ₽58.0
$2.17 MX$38.02
-65.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₽109
$1.03 MX$18.09
34.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ₽46.20
$1.07 MX$18.84
-44.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26 ₽256
$4.10 MX$72.0
-20.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.35 ₽656
$10.17 MX$178
-17.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₽75.7
$1.68 MX$29.38
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₽145
$2.53 MX$44.31
-26.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₽41.92
$0.51 MX$8.93
3.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.04 MX$457
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.60 ₽204
$3.23 MX$56.7
-19.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₽21.31
$2.41 MX$42.19
-88.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.88 ₽305
$3.23 MX$56.6
20.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 ₽62.4
$1.32 MX$23.17
-40.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K ₽2.7M
$29.7K MX$520.9K
14.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K ₽1.9M
$23.7K MX$415.0K
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.5 ₽4,510
$82.0 MX$1,439
-29.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.23 ₽489
$22.95 MX$403
-72.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.13 ₽716
$30.11 MX$528
-69.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.03 ₽2,828
$52.0 MX$912
-30.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 ₽488
$4.98 MX$87.3
24.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$451 ₽35.4K
$197 MX$3,463
128.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,972 ₽547.3K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
30.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 ₽5,957
$35.60 MX$624
113.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.67 ₽2,642
$40.33 MX$707
-16.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 ₽10.6K
$78.8 MX$1,381
71.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₽8,549
$88.9 MX$1,560
22.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$437 ₽34.3K
$947 MX$16.6K
-53.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 ₽23.6K
$474 MX$8,314
-36.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$771 ₽60.5K
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-53.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ₽40.0K
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-57.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,473 ₽194.1K
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-39.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,421 ₽111.6K
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-78.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
11.42
-21.19%

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

Last update for Anapa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Anapa and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $53.0 in Anapa vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $249, with Anapa cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Anapa vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Anapa or Playa del Carmen?
Anapa wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anapa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Anapa and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,452 in Anapa and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Anapa compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Anapa versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Anapa or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Anapa compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $968 per month in Anapa versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Anapa or in Playa del Carmen?
At $968 in Anapa versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Anapa but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Anapa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Anapa or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Anapa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $968 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anapa hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Anapa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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