🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $832 in Angeles versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,327 in Angeles versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,822 in Angeles versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Angeles costs roughly 34% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Angeles38% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67₱162
$11.87MX$204
-77.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.70₱1,621
$42.90MX$736
-37.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.85₱173
$10.65MX$183
-73.24%
Cappuccino
$2.07₱126
$3.45MX$59.2
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92₱55.9
$1.50MX$25.81
-38.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₱23.94
$0.95MX$16.28
-58.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25₱76.0
$3.03MX$51.9
-58.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₱137
$4.61MX$79.1
-51.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65₱100
$1.38MX$23.61
19.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50₱91.0
$1.85MX$31.70
-18.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95₱58.0
$1.61MX$27.65
-40.99%
Eggs
$1.94₱118
$2.59MX$44.51
-25.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.43₱573
$8.26MX$142
14.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.21₱256
$8.37MX$144
-49.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04₱609
$10.66MX$183
-5.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35₱203
$2.63MX$45.12
27.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43₱87.1
$1.49MX$25.53
-4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82₱171
$1.92MX$32.94
46.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62₱98.4
$2.09MX$35.81
-22.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64₱160
$1.86MX$31.88
41.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69₱163
$2.26MX$38.81
19.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20₱134
$1.06MX$18.23
107.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47₱28.33
$1.09MX$18.67
-56.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71₱164
$4.15MX$71.2
-34.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.48₱515
$10.39MX$178
-18.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37₱83.4
$1.72MX$29.59
-20.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66₱101
$2.61MX$44.85
-36.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20₱12.26
$0.54MX$9.30
-62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21₱73.7
$3.13MX$53.7
-61.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.32
$2.51MX$43.09
-91.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.64₱99.4
$3.15MX$54.1
-47.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₱66.0
$1.27MX$21.88
-14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K₱2.5M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
33.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K₱1.5M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
8.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147₱8,921
$83.0MX$1,425
77.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.95₱2,244
$22.71MX$390
62.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.46₱1,971
$29.46MX$506
10.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.20₱1,773
$51.0MX$875
-42.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.24₱440
$18.33MX$315
-60.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.18₱315
$4.93MX$84.5
5.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$103₱6,226
$197MX$3,386
-48.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,244₱439.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
37.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.46₱2,032
$36.90MX$633
-9.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.22₱1,532
$39.89MX$685
-36.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4₱4,517
$80.0MX$1,373
-7.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2₱5,783
$89.5MX$1,536
6.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$364₱22.1K
$956MX$16.4K
-61.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195₱11.8K
$477MX$8,189
-59.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748₱45.4K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-54.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483₱29.3K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-60.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,121₱128.8K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-45.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$642₱39.0K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-90.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Angeles
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$295₱17.9K
$667MX$11.4K
-55.84%
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 Angeles: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in Angeles and $956 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: $27.00 in Angeles vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $250 per month, with Angeles 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
Angeles vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Angeles or Playa del Carmen?
Angeles wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Angeles the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Angeles or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 126% 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 Angeles vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $364 in Angeles versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Angeles or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 Angeles compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $832 per month in Angeles versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Angeles or Playa del Carmen?
At $832 in Angeles versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Angeles but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Angeles the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Angeles or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Angeles delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $832 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Angeles hard to pass up.
How safe is Angeles compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Angeles 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Angeles gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.