🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,019 in Anapa versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,567 in Anapa versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,115 in Anapa versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Anapa costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Anapa26% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.67₽730
$11.60MX$200
-25.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.89₽4,198
$47.11MX$811
5.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23₽692
$11.88MX$205
-30.72%
Cappuccino
$3.34₽281
$3.98MX$68.5
-16.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38₽116
$1.43MX$24.57
-3.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₽47.79
$0.82MX$14.20
-30.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₽110
$3.19MX$54.9
-58.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₽242
$6.79MX$117
-57.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55₽131
$1.68MX$28.85
-7.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13₽95.2
$2.20MX$37.83
-48.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33₽112
$1.71MX$29.41
-22.22%
Eggs
$1.72₽145
$2.74MX$47.20
-37.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.04₽929
$9.58MX$165
15.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.75₽400
$9.01MX$155
-47.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.90₽833
$12.81MX$221
-22.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24₽104
$2.89MX$49.74
-57.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73₽146
$1.50MX$25.78
15.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₽152
$2.15MX$36.98
-16.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.79₽150
$2.26MX$38.91
-20.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75₽63.2
$1.98MX$34.10
-62.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55₽46.49
$1.99MX$34.26
-72.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35₽114
$1.23MX$21.25
9.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56₽47.08
$1.20MX$20.60
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54₽298
$4.55MX$78.3
-22.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.16₽603
$10.37MX$179
-30.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08₽90.6
$1.62MX$27.88
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08₽175
$2.88MX$49.60
-27.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽44.53
$0.60MX$10.34
-11.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25₽190
$5.39MX$92.8
-58.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31₽25.74
$3.73MX$64.2
-91.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.10₽429
$5.77MX$99.3
-11.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽63.4
$1.54MX$26.45
-51.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K₽2.0M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K₽2.7M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
24.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142₽11.9K
$91.4MX$1,573
55.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.90₽580
$25.20MX$434
-72.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₽601
$31.24MX$538
-77.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.08₽2,867
$67.2MX$1,157
-49.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.44₽1,972
$29.11MX$501
-19.48%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80₽235
$4.86MX$83.7
-42.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313₽26.3K
$224MX$3,851
40.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,158₽518.1K
$4,229MX$72.8K
45.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1₽5,649
$47.10MX$811
42.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76₽3,850
$44.29MX$763
3.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114₽9,624
$80.1MX$1,379
42.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4₽8,193
$92.7MX$1,596
5.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$461₽38.8K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-56.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$312₽26.2K
$390MX$6,719
-20.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$792₽66.6K
$2,149MX$37.0K
-63.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541₽45.5K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-57.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,248₽189.1K
$4,001MX$68.9K
-43.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,429₽120.3K
$6,502MX$112.0K
-78.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anapa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23
11.45
100.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anapa: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $461 in Anapa and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Anapa vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $276, 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 24% 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 $1,528 in Anapa and $1,899 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: $461 in Anapa versus $1,063 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 40% 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 $1,019 per month in Anapa versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 24% 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 $1,019 in Anapa versus $1,266 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 $1,019 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 24% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.