Cost of Living Comparison Between Andaman Islands and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Andaman Islands and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Andaman Islands versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $633 in Andaman Islands versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $868 in Andaman Islands versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Andaman Islands costs roughly 68% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Andaman Islands 70% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38 ₹229
$11.99 MX$209
-80.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.44 ₹1,005
$41.78 MX$727
-75.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.63 ₹349
$10.75 MX$187
-66.23%
Cappuccino
$1.54 ₹148
$3.50 MX$60.8
-56.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹38.76
$1.45 MX$25.21
-72.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.39
$0.88 MX$15.40
-78.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 ₹170
$2.95 MX$51.3
-40.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ₹293
$4.51 MX$78.5
-32.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 ₹103
$1.43 MX$24.92
-25.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 ₹47.92
$1.84 MX$31.98
-72.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 ₹80.9
$1.57 MX$27.30
-46.50%
Eggs
$0.94 ₹90.2
$2.51 MX$43.72
-62.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.87 ₹469
$8.28 MX$144
-41.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 ₹281
$8.43 MX$147
-65.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.68 MX$186
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 ₹211
$2.61 MX$45.40
-16.09%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 ₹65.7
$1.44 MX$25.03
-52.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ₹96.0
$1.96 MX$34.15
-48.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₹49.07
$2.09 MX$36.45
-75.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.32
$1.85 MX$32.22
-78.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.41 ₹39.82
$2.17 MX$37.72
-81.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 ₹47.42
$1.03 MX$17.95
-52.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 ₹26.09
$1.07 MX$18.69
-74.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 ₹381
$4.10 MX$71.4
-3.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 ₹692
$10.17 MX$177
-29.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₹168
$1.68 MX$29.15
3.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹281
$2.53 MX$43.96
15.42%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$4.99 ₹481
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹29.02
$0.51 MX$8.86
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.71 ₹838
$26.04 MX$453
-66.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₹80.7
$3.23 MX$56.3
-73.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ₹25.07
$2.41 MX$41.86
-89.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ₹138
$3.23 MX$56.2
-55.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₹110
$1.32 MX$22.99
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.2K ₹1.4M
$29.7K MX$516.8K
-52.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K ₹2.1M
$23.7K MX$411.8K
-7.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.46 ₹3,797
$82.0 MX$1,427
-51.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.38 ₹326
$22.95 MX$399
-85.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.61 ₹732
$30.11 MX$524
-74.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.94 ₹1,534
$52.0 MX$904
-69.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94 ₹668
$18.53 MX$322
-62.55%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88 ₹277
$4.98 MX$86.6
-42.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$51.0 ₹4,908
$197 MX$3,436
-74.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,510 ₹145.3K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
-71.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.67 ₹2,374
$35.60 MX$619
-30.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.33 ₹2,438
$40.33 MX$702
-37.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.49 ₹4,185
$78.8 MX$1,370
-44.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.93 ₹3,073
$88.9 MX$1,548
-64.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$125 ₹12.0K
$947 MX$16.5K
-86.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$75.7 ₹7,284
$474 MX$8,249
-84.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 ₹26.5K
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-83.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 ₹17.3K
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-85.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$995 ₹95.8K
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-75.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$506 ₹48.7K
$6,470 MX$112.6K
-92.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Andaman Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 ₹27.8K
$654 MX$11.4K
-55.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.67
11.42
-24.08%

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

Last update for Andaman Islands: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Andaman Islands and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 126% 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: $10.00 in Andaman Islands vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $249 per month, with Andaman Islands 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
Andaman Islands vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Andaman Islands?
Andaman Islands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Andaman Islands or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 126% 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.
What is the rent difference between Andaman Islands and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $125 in Andaman Islands versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Andaman Islands runs roughly 199% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $51.0 in Andaman Islands versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Andaman Islands or in Playa del Carmen?
At $398 in Andaman Islands versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Andaman Islands but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Andaman Islands the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Andaman Islands or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Andaman Islands is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Andaman Islands or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Andaman Islands and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Andaman Islands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Andaman Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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