😐A single person spends $2,298 per month in Antigonish vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Antigonish vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,358 per month in Antigonish vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Antigonish costs about 83% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Antigonish sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.48CA$20.38
$11.99MX$209
20.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3CA$86.3
$41.78MX$728
46.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.08CA$12.78
$10.75MX$187
-15.53%
Cappuccino
$3.57CA$5.02
$3.50MX$60.9
2.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.47
$1.45MX$25.22
20.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34CA$1.88
$0.88MX$15.41
52.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93CA$8.35
$2.95MX$51.3
101.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82CA$8.19
$4.51MX$78.6
29.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95CA$2.74
$1.43MX$24.94
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.02CA$2.84
$1.84MX$31.99
9.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.68
$1.57MX$27.31
66.88%
Eggs
$3.24CA$4.56
$2.51MX$43.74
29.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.39CA$17.43
$8.28MX$144
49.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.03CA$18.33
$8.43MX$147
54.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.19CA$22.78
$10.68MX$186
51.59%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.76
$2.61MX$45.43
56.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57CA$2.21
$1.44MX$25.04
9.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.23
$1.96MX$34.16
89.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.58CA$7.85
$2.09MX$36.47
166.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07CA$2.91
$1.85MX$32.24
11.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18CA$3.07
$2.17MX$37.74
0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.77CA$3.90
$1.03MX$17.96
168.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88CA$2.64
$1.07MX$18.70
75.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.39CA$25.88
$4.10MX$71.4
348.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.15CA$19.91
$10.17MX$177
39.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41CA$4.80
$1.68MX$29.17
102.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34CA$4.70
$2.53MX$43.98
32.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57CA$3.61
$0.51MX$8.87
403.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.0CA$87.3
$26.04MX$453
138.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77CA$8.12
$3.23MX$56.3
78.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48CA$2.08
$2.41MX$41.88
-38.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.58CA$41.62
$3.23MX$56.2
815.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18CA$1.66
$1.32MX$23.00
-10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$34.8K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-16.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KCA$29.8K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
-10.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135CA$189
$82.0MX$1,428
64.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87CA$53.3
$22.95MX$400
65.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.3CA$116
$30.11MX$524
173.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.74CA$51.7
$52.0MX$905
-29.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.24CA$15.81
$4.98MX$86.6
125.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167CA$235
$197MX$3,438
-15.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.4K
$5,336MX$92.9K
118.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.52CA$58.4
$35.60MX$620
16.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.58CA$50.1
$40.33MX$702
-11.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8CA$119
$78.8MX$1,371
7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137CA$193
$88.9MX$1,549
54.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303CA$1,834
$947MX$16.5K
37.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188CA$1,672
$474MX$8,254
150.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,053CA$2,889
$1,644MX$28.6K
24.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,832CA$2,577
$1,211MX$21.1K
51.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antigonish
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,649CA$3,727
$654MX$11.4K
305.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
11.42
-43.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antigonish: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,303 in Antigonish versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 305% higher in Antigonish, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Antigonish versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $249 – 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 – Antigonish is pricier by about 83%, 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 $3,447 per month in Antigonish and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Antigonish and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Antigonish, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Antigonish or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Antigonish and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Antigonish or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Antigonish at $2,298. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Antigonish it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Antigonish or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antigonish makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Antigonish vs other spots: cost of living compared