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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $729 in Anapolis versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,186 in Anapolis versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,643 in Anapolis versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Anapolis costs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Anapolis 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34 R$27.12
$11.72 MX$203
-54.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.88 R$182
$41.89 MX$725
-14.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 R$26.97
$10.51 MX$182
-49.48%
Cappuccino
$1.67 R$8.46
$3.59 MX$62.0
-53.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 R$6.21
$1.51 MX$26.10
-19.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 R$4.38
$0.92 MX$15.83
-6.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 R$9.32
$2.96 MX$51.2
-37.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 R$11.60
$4.41 MX$76.3
-48.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.00
$1.40 MX$24.16
-29.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 R$8.45
$1.88 MX$32.60
-11.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 R$7.37
$1.56 MX$26.97
-7.05%
Eggs
$1.90 R$9.64
$2.61 MX$45.14
-27.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 R$41.64
$8.32 MX$144
-1.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 R$16.76
$8.35 MX$145
-60.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.43 R$32.64
$10.86 MX$188
-40.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 R$9.86
$2.71 MX$46.93
-28.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 R$5.18
$1.51 MX$26.04
-32.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.58
$1.87 MX$32.41
-41.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 R$4.83
$2.19 MX$37.89
-56.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.22
$1.86 MX$32.14
-33.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 R$4.67
$2.23 MX$38.59
-58.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 R$3.32
$1.07 MX$18.48
-39.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.40
$1.09 MX$18.79
-38.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76 R$8.93
$4.19 MX$72.4
-58.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 R$28.92
$10.43 MX$180
-45.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 R$5.43
$1.66 MX$28.68
-35.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 R$12.07
$2.61 MX$45.19
-8.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.35
$0.54 MX$9.37
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.36 R$195
$26.16 MX$453
46.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 R$5.16
$3.08 MX$53.3
-66.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 R$3.79
$2.40 MX$41.61
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.76 R$29.23
$3.13 MX$54.1
84.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 R$5.69
$1.31 MX$22.69
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K R$129.0K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
-14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K R$146.4K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
23.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.4 R$271
$81.3 MX$1,406
-34.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92 R$45.27
$22.56 MX$390
-60.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 R$89.6
$30.05 MX$520
-41.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.95 R$116
$52.9 MX$915
-56.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.03 R$112
$18.39 MX$318
19.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.35 R$27.16
$4.92 MX$85.1
8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 R$2,476
$201 MX$3,474
142.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K R$77.3K
$5,175 MX$89.5K
194.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 R$276
$35.92 MX$622
51.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.62 R$186
$40.13 MX$694
-8.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.4 R$352
$79.7 MX$1,379
-12.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.11 R$183
$86.5 MX$1,496
-58.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$317 R$1,608
$978 MX$16.9K
-67.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 R$1,086
$470 MX$8,140
-54.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 R$2,920
$1,651 MX$28.6K
-65.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 R$2,188
$1,203 MX$20.8K
-64.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,224 R$6,209
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-69.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$946 R$4,800
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-85.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anapolis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$531 R$2,697
$677 MX$11.7K
-21.45%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Anapolis and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 27% 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: $36.00 in Anapolis vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $252 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 73% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $317 in Anapolis versus $978 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 $729 per month in Anapolis versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Anapolis compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Anapolis runs roughly 47% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $729 in Anapolis versus $1,260 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 $729 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 73% 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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