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

😐 Solo nomad: Arenal is 8.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Arenal is 31.2% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 8.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.9 ₡5,456

$11.99 MX$227

-9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$42.47 MX$803

38.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 ₡4,918

$10.47 MX$198

-6.21%

Cappuccino

$3.8 ₡1,904

$3.6 MX$68.2

5.56%

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

$1.98 ₡990

$1.44 MX$27.16

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₡805

$0.89 MX$16.79

80.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3 ₡1,502

$3.09 MX$58.5

-2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,367

$4.58 MX$86.6

3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$1.38 MX$26.04

49.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,428

$1.85 MX$34.9

54.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,112

$1.57 MX$29.68

41.40%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,469

$2.55 MX$48.3

14.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₡4,874

$8.61 MX$163

13.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 ₡4,546

$8.54 MX$161

6.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.84 ₡6,931

$10.98 MX$208

26.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.4 ₡2,203

$2.72 MX$51.4

61.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡756

$1.51 MX$28.57

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,183

$1.88 MX$35.63

131.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$2.19 MX$41.42

62.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,765

$1.87 MX$35.3

88.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,605

$2.19 MX$41.37

46.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡484

$1.07 MX$20.23

-9.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,427

$1.09 MX$20.64

161.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 ₡2,695

$3.96 MX$74.9

35.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ₡9,343

$8.86 MX$167

110.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,259

$1.72 MX$32.53

46.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,476

$2.61 MX$49.37

13.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡520

$0.52 MX$9.74

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.59 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡891

$3.24 MX$61.2

-45.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡921

$2.38 MX$44.94

-22.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ₡4,058

$3.11 MX$58.7

160.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡700

$1.31 MX$24.85

6.87%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$30.3K MX$573K

24.32%

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

$33.1K ₡16.6M

$24K MX$453.6K

38.09%

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

$94.5 ₡47.3K

$84.2 MX$1,592

12.14%

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

$25.71 ₡12.9K

$22.14 MX$419

16.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡29.6K

$30.14 MX$570

96.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$52 MX$983

11.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.97 ₡12K

$18.72 MX$354

28.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 ₡4,873

$5.07 MX$95.9

91.91%

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

$561 ₡280.7K

$200 MX$3,787

179.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.4M

$5,333 MX$100.8K

138.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$35.74 MX$676

72.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡26.2K

$39.8 MX$753

31.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡63.1K

$79 MX$1,493

59.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡54K

$88.4 MX$1,671

22.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡380.1K

$965 MX$18.3K

-21.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡299K

$474 MX$8,968

25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₡767.2K

$1,653 MX$31.2K

-7.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 ₡484.4K

$1,202 MX$22.7K

-19.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,081 MX$58.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,529 MX$142.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 MX$15K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

11.42

-10.95%

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

Last update for Arenal: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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