Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Arak and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $427 in Arak versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Arak versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $914 in Arak versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Arak costs roughly 66% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arak 68% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 $3.02

$11.72 MX$203

-74.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.75 $13.75

$41.89 MX$725

-67.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.48 $2.48

$10.51 MX$182

-76.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

Cappuccino

$1.26 $1.26

$3.59 MX$62.0

-64.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 $0.36

$1.51 MX$26.10

-76.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.92 MX$15.83

11.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.40 MX$24.16

-55.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 $0.55

$1.88 MX$32.60

-70.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.56 MX$26.97

23.72%

Eggs

$1.01 $1.01

$2.61 MX$45.14

-61.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$8.32 MX$144

-77.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$8.35 MX$145

-77.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 $8.37

$10.86 MX$188

-22.93%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 $0.84

$2.71 MX$46.93

-69.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.51 MX$26.04

-25.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.87 MX$32.41

-66.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$2.19 MX$37.89

-81.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 $0.39

$1.86 MX$32.14

-79.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 $0.36

$2.23 MX$38.59

-83.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 $0.34

$1.07 MX$18.48

-68.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$1.09 MX$18.79

-77.06%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 $1.77

$4.19 MX$72.4

-57.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.54 MX$9.37

-20.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 $9.97

$26.16 MX$453

-61.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 $0.38

$3.08 MX$53.3

-87.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.11 $0.11

$2.40 MX$41.61

-95.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 $1.21

$3.13 MX$54.1

-61.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 $0.35

$1.31 MX$22.69

-73.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.0K $44.0K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

47.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

71.07%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$10.12 $10.12

$81.3 MX$1,406

-87.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.06 $2.06

$22.56 MX$390

-90.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.70 $5.70

$30.05 MX$520

-81.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.84 $12.84

$52.9 MX$915

-75.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.31 $16.31

$18.39 MX$318

-11.31%

Cinema Ticket

$0.98 $0.98

$4.92 MX$85.1

-80.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$60.9 $60.9

$201 MX$3,474

-69.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,966 $1,966

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-62.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.78 $12.78

$35.92 MX$622

-64.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.22 $8.22

$40.13 MX$694

-79.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.13 $45.13

$79.7 MX$1,379

-43.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.71 $45.71

$86.5 MX$1,496

-47.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 $307

$978 MX$16.9K

-68.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 $192

$470 MX$8,140

-59.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 $488

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-70.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 $310

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-74.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,361 $1,361

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-65.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$531 $531

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-91.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 $379

$677 MX$11.7K

-44.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.33

11.42

60.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arak: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $307 in Arak and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 79% 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: $14.00 in Arak vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 vs $252 per month, with Arak cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arak vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 195% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $307 in Arak versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $427 per month in Arak versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 195% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 162% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $427 in Arak versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arak but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Arak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Arak 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.

Safety-wise, Arak 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.

Expats usually find Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.