🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $466 in Antsirabe versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $715 in Antsirabe versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $965 in Antsirabe versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Antsirabe costs roughly 64% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Antsirabe66% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.14MGA 4,940
$11.96MX$203
-90.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.12MGA 69.8K
$47.38MX$804
-65.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.97MGA 25.9K
$11.75MX$199
-49.19%
Cappuccino
$1.36MGA 5,899
$4.12MX$70.0
-66.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MGA 3,408
$1.40MX$23.74
-43.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MGA 1,997
$0.91MX$15.48
-49.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05MGA 4,555
$3.21MX$54.4
-67.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27MGA 9,847
$7.07MX$120
-67.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97MGA 4,203
$1.68MX$28.44
-42.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MGA 4,457
$2.15MX$36.48
-52.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74MGA 3,194
$1.77MX$30.10
-58.19%
Eggs
$2.14MGA 9,285
$2.82MX$47.76
-24.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.85MGA 38.3K
$9.20MX$156
-3.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50MGA 19.5K
$9.23MX$157
-51.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.87MGA 21.1K
$12.64MX$214
-61.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.13MGA 4,893
$2.95MX$50.1
-61.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.57MGA 2,450
$1.58MX$26.79
-63.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03MGA 4,465
$2.22MX$37.70
-53.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.84MGA 3,654
$2.36MX$40.09
-64.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57MGA 2,473
$1.99MX$33.81
-71.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96MGA 4,180
$1.98MX$33.58
-51.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35MGA 1,523
$1.24MX$21.04
-71.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45MGA 1,947
$1.21MX$20.55
-62.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59MGA 6,895
$4.60MX$78.1
-65.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.10MGA 22.1K
$10.52MX$178
-51.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02MGA 4,399
$1.69MX$28.70
-39.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MGA 8,250
$2.77MX$47.06
-31.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43MGA 14.9K
$5.24MX$88.8
-34.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13MGA 9,210
$3.65MX$61.9
-41.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.71MGA 20.4K
$5.78MX$98.1
-18.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17MGA 5,052
$1.54MX$26.09
-24.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1KMGA 52.5M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
-46.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KMGA 112.7M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
0.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.5MGA 331.3K
$90.7MX$1,538
-15.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50MGA 75.8K
$25.19MX$427
-30.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7MGA 250.0K
$31.75MX$539
81.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.79MGA 25.1K
$4.86MX$82.5
19.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.69MGA 111.3K
$226MX$3,828
-88.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KMGA 65.9M
$4,194MX$71.1K
262.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.96MGA 129.8K
$47.38MX$804
-36.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.66MGA 124.2K
$43.45MX$737
-34.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MGA 345.3K
$80.2MX$1,361
-0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0MGA 307.5K
$91.4MX$1,550
-22.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$409MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antsirabe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.75
11.45
37.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antsirabe: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Antsirabe vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $278 per month, with Antsirabe 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
Antsirabe vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Antsirabe?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 180% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $699 in Antsirabe and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Antsirabe and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Antsirabe and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $466 per month in Antsirabe versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 180% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Antsirabe or in Playa del Carmen?
At $466 in Antsirabe versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Antsirabe or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe 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, Antsirabe or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Antsirabe 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 Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.