🙂A single person spends $750 per month in Antipolo vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,256 per month in Antipolo vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Antipolo vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Antipolo is about 42% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Antipolo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Antipolo44% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.25₱324
$11.94MX$209
-56.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.51₱1,635
$42.75MX$748
-37.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.07₱128
$10.59MX$185
-80.45%
Cappuccino
$0.64₱39.36
$3.62MX$63.4
-82.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₱27.23
$1.47MX$25.69
-70.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33₱20.59
$0.94MX$16.51
-64.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.94₱57.8
$3.09MX$54.1
-69.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26₱77.7
$4.46MX$78.0
-71.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91₱118
$1.43MX$24.94
33.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40₱86.1
$1.88MX$32.97
-25.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09₱67.0
$1.63MX$28.50
-33.13%
Eggs
$2.15₱132
$2.64MX$46.26
-18.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30₱574
$8.21MX$144
13.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.19₱320
$8.29MX$145
-37.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.29₱511
$11.10MX$194
-25.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48₱215
$2.65MX$46.40
31.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81₱112
$1.50MX$26.26
20.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49₱215
$1.99MX$34.79
75.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38₱147
$2.08MX$36.33
14.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78₱171
$1.79MX$31.29
55.31%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08₱190
$2.18MX$38.09
41.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97₱121
$1.08MX$18.84
82.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₱40.57
$1.04MX$18.15
-36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44₱212
$3.97MX$69.5
-13.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.93₱551
$10.20MX$179
-12.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50₱92.2
$1.73MX$30.22
-13.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14₱132
$2.50MX$43.71
-14.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.93
$0.52MX$9.07
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86₱53.0
$3.14MX$55.0
-72.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.85
$2.40MX$42.04
-90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.16₱133
$3.09MX$54.0
-30.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱71.2
$1.27MX$22.28
-9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K₱1.6M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-15.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K₱1.4M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134₱8,259
$82.0MX$1,435
63.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.11₱1,364
$22.45MX$393
-1.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.98₱1,726
$29.66MX$519
-5.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.40₱2,122
$51.9MX$908
-33.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.41₱272
$18.67MX$327
-76.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62₱408
$4.97MX$87.0
33.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118₱7,277
$198MX$3,462
-40.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,232₱261.0K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-19.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.96₱2,897
$36.34MX$636
29.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89₱2,152
$40.05MX$701
-12.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.4₱5,083
$79.9MX$1,398
3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.32₱2,919
$88.9MX$1,555
-46.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192₱11.9K
$963MX$16.9K
-80.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116₱7,178
$465MX$8,133
-74.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583₱36.0K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-63.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389₱24.0K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-67.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,326₱143.4K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-41.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,224₱75.5K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-81.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antipolo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$439₱27.1K
$720MX$12.6K
-39.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.52
11.42
-34.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antipolo: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $192 in Antipolo versus $963 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 64% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $27.00 in Antipolo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $251 – making Antipolo 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
Antipolo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Antipolo or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Antipolo, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Antipolo vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,125 per month in Antipolo and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Antipolo or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Antipolo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Antipolo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $750 in Antipolo and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Antipolo and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Antipolo and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Antipolo or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Antipolo, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Antipolo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Antipolo or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Antipolo costs $750 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Antipolo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Antipolo or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Antipolo. 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.