🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $730 in Anapolis versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Anapolis versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,669 in Anapolis versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Anapolis costs roughly 43% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Anapolis45% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.56R$27.74
$11.94MX$209
-53.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.46R$177
$42.75MX$748
-17.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29R$26.40
$10.59MX$185
-50.05%
Cappuccino
$1.66R$8.30
$3.62MX$63.4
-54.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.87
$1.47MX$25.69
-19.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88R$4.37
$0.94MX$16.51
-6.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.18
$3.09MX$54.1
-40.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30R$11.49
$4.46MX$78.0
-48.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99R$4.92
$1.43MX$24.94
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68R$8.36
$1.88MX$32.97
-10.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40R$7.00
$1.63MX$28.50
-14.11%
Eggs
$1.91R$9.55
$2.64MX$46.26
-27.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.93R$39.58
$8.21MX$144
-3.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44R$17.18
$8.29MX$145
-58.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.76R$33.74
$11.10MX$194
-39.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88R$9.37
$2.65MX$46.40
-29.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01R$5.03
$1.50MX$26.26
-32.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05R$5.24
$1.99MX$34.79
-47.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01R$5.03
$2.08MX$36.33
-51.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.14
$1.79MX$31.29
-31.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91R$4.55
$2.18MX$38.09
-58.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64R$3.21
$1.08MX$18.84
-40.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.35
$1.04MX$18.15
-35.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79R$8.92
$3.97MX$69.5
-54.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.86R$29.26
$10.20MX$179
-42.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06R$5.30
$1.73MX$30.22
-38.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35R$11.72
$2.50MX$43.71
-6.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.29
$0.52MX$9.07
65.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.02R$190
$26.97MX$472
40.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.70
$3.14MX$55.0
-70.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.77
$2.40MX$42.04
-68.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71R$28.50
$3.09MX$54.0
84.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.41
$1.27MX$22.28
-14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KR$125.8K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-18.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KR$145.0K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
24.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.3R$266
$82.0MX$1,435
-34.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.11R$45.47
$22.45MX$393
-59.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.98R$89.7
$29.66MX$519
-39.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.14R$110
$51.9MX$908
-57.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.89R$109
$18.67MX$327
17.25%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42R$27.06
$4.97MX$87.0
9.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$483R$2,412
$198MX$3,462
144.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KR$74.5K
$5,273MX$92.3K
183.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0R$265
$36.34MX$636
45.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.90R$179
$40.05MX$701
-10.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7R$338
$79.9MX$1,398
-15.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.61R$178
$88.9MX$1,555
-59.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,570
$963MX$16.9K
-67.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217R$1,082
$465MX$8,133
-53.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584R$2,913
$1,596MX$27.9K
-63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430R$2,147
$1,209MX$21.2K
-64.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,273R$6,352
$3,942MX$69.0K
-67.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$971R$4,846
$6,448MX$112.8K
-84.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534R$2,665
$720MX$12.6K
-25.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.68
11.42
-6.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anapolis: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Anapolis and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 35% 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: $35.00 in Anapolis vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $251 per month, with Anapolis 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
Anapolis vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Anapolis or Playa del Carmen?
Anapolis wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anapolis the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Anapolis or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Anapolis vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Anapolis versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Anapolis compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $730 per month in Anapolis versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Anapolis vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Anapolis runs roughly 41% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Anapolis or Playa del Carmen?
At $730 in Anapolis versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Anapolis but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Anapolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Anapolis or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Anapolis delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $730 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anapolis hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Anapolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.