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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arequipa is 38.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arequipa is 30.7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 50.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.26 PEN 14.63
$11.61 MX$201
-63.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.24 PEN 96.9
$42.75 MX$739
-33.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 PEN 19.56
$10.60 MX$183
-46.23%
Cappuccino
$2.49 PEN 8.55
$3.59 MX$62.0
-30.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 PEN 2.78
$1.45 MX$25.10
-44.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PEN 1.26
$0.90 MX$15.52
-58.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 PEN 7.57
$3.03 MX$52.4
-27.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 PEN 20.37
$4.56 MX$78.8
30.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 PEN 5.26
$1.45 MX$25.10
5.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 PEN 4.19
$1.83 MX$31.59
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PEN 4.33
$1.61 MX$27.80
-21.74%
Eggs
$2.16 PEN 7.42
$2.54 MX$43.87
-14.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.58 PEN 19.14
$8.54 MX$148
-34.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 PEN 18.13
$8.47 MX$146
-37.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.57 PEN 25.96
$10.86 MX$188
-30.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 PEN 4.98
$2.73 MX$47.18
-46.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 PEN 4.01
$1.49 MX$25.80
-21.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 PEN 4.04
$1.94 MX$33.59
-39.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 PEN 2.59
$2.16 MX$37.42
-65.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 PEN 2.01
$1.85 MX$31.92
-68.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$2.19 MX$37.84
-75.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 PEN 1.50
$1.07 MX$18.54
-58.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 PEN 2.50
$1.08 MX$18.73
-32.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 PEN 16.95
$4.06 MX$70.2
21.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 PEN 17.35
$10.46 MX$181
-51.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 PEN 8.29
$1.65 MX$28.59
46.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 PEN 7.94
$2.55 MX$44.06
-9.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PEN 0.91
$0.56 MX$9.61
-51.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$3.14 MX$54.3
-32.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$2.37 MX$41.00
-10.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.88 PEN 44.18
$3.24 MX$56.0
297.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 PEN 5.31
$1.31 MX$22.72
18.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K PEN 64.9K
$30.5K MX$528.0K
-38.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K PEN 86.1K
$23.8K MX$411.9K
5.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.21 PEN 138
$83.1 MX$1,438
-51.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.71 PEN 36.75
$22.15 MX$383
-51.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.34 PEN 104
$29.37 MX$508
3.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.65 PEN 74.3
$51.2 MX$885
-57.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 PEN 29.37
$18.69 MX$323
-54.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52 PEN 15.52
$4.89 MX$84.5
-7.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PEN 208
$199 MX$3,435
-69.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,415 PEN 22.0K
$5,207 MX$90.0K
23.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.93 PEN 127
$35.93 MX$621
2.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.20 PEN 76.1
$39.39 MX$681
-43.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.7 PEN 219
$80.3 MX$1,388
-20.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.7 PEN 188
$87.6 MX$1,514
-37.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 PEN 812
$963 MX$16.7K
-75.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 PEN 536
$482 MX$8,336
-67.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 PEN 1,859
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-67.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 PEN 1,342
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-67.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,004 PEN 6,874
$3,957 MX$68.4K
-49.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$997 PEN 3,420
$6,513 MX$112.6K
-84.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$649 PEN 2,226
$726 MX$12.6K
-10.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
11.42
31.35%

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

Last update for Arequipa: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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