🙂A single person spends $1,055 per month in Antigonish vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,709 per month in Antigonish vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,363 per month in Antigonish vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Antigonish is about 17% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Antigonish and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Antigonish23% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75CA$15.04
$11.60MX$200
-7.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3CA$88.6
$47.11MX$812
34.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.92CA$15.28
$11.88MX$205
-8.08%
Cappuccino
$3.30CA$4.61
$3.98MX$68.6
-17.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.87
$1.43MX$24.60
43.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.73
$0.82MX$14.22
137.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.62CA$6.47
$3.19MX$55.0
44.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70CA$7.98
$6.79MX$117
-16.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10CA$2.94
$1.68MX$28.89
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95CA$2.73
$2.20MX$37.88
-11.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.50
$1.71MX$29.45
46.20%
Eggs
$3.15CA$4.41
$2.74MX$47.26
14.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.78CA$19.28
$9.58MX$165
43.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.76CA$15.06
$9.01MX$155
19.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.23CA$18.50
$12.81MX$221
3.28%
Apples(1kg)
$5.67CA$7.93
$2.89MX$49.81
96.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56CA$2.18
$1.50MX$25.81
4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.71CA$6.59
$2.15MX$37.03
119.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77CA$8.07
$2.26MX$38.96
155.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12CA$2.97
$1.98MX$34.15
7.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16CA$3.02
$1.99MX$34.30
8.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.65CA$3.71
$1.23MX$21.28
115.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.05
$1.20MX$20.63
81.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.29CA$19.99
$4.55MX$78.5
214.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.51CA$20.30
$10.37MX$179
39.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33CA$4.66
$1.62MX$27.91
105.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11CA$5.75
$2.88MX$49.67
42.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.53CA$4.94
$0.60MX$10.35
488.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.98CA$4.16
$5.39MX$92.9
-44.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36CA$1.90
$3.73MX$64.3
-63.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.62CA$30.24
$5.77MX$99.5
274.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16CA$1.63
$1.54MX$26.48
-24.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.5K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
28.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KCA$27.6K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-24.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126CA$176
$91.4MX$1,576
37.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.66CA$58.3
$25.20MX$435
65.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2CA$91.2
$31.24MX$539
108.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.76CA$50.0
$67.2MX$1,159
-46.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.21CA$18.47
$4.86MX$83.8
171.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$376CA$526
$224MX$3,856
68.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8KCA$19.3K
$4,229MX$72.9K
225.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5CA$84.6
$47.10MX$812
28.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.49CA$49.64
$44.29MX$764
-19.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104CA$145
$80.1MX$1,381
29.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120CA$168
$92.7MX$1,598
29.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,728
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$37.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,673CA$3,739
$758MX$13.1K
252.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
11.45
-59.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antigonish: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 252% higher in Antigonish, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Antigonish versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Antigonish vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Antigonish?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,583 per month in Antigonish and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Antigonish or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Antigonish and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Antigonish and in Playa del Carmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Antigonish or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antigonish, where all-in costs run around $1,055, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Antigonish it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Antigonish or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Antigonish – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Antigonish. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Antigonish vs other spots: cost of living compared