😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,661 in Arezzo versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,543 in Arezzo versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,424 in Arezzo versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Arezzo is roughly 28% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arezzo is 24% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46€15.03
$11.73MX$203
48.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3€51.9
$41.62MX$721
44.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.56€9.95
$10.64MX$184
8.65%
Cappuccino
$1.64€1.41
$3.52MX$61.0
-53.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48€2.14
$1.51MX$26.17
64.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.02
$0.97MX$16.87
22.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.35€4.61
$2.95MX$51.1
81.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11€3.54
$4.45MX$77.2
-7.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$1.38MX$23.97
13.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82€1.57
$1.89MX$32.78
-3.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$1.64MX$28.37
66.46%
Eggs
$3.37€2.90
$2.51MX$43.42
34.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.61€16.03
$8.34MX$145
123.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.56€10.82
$8.34MX$145
50.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.90€18.86
$10.73MX$186
104.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.60MX$45.12
-18.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.46MX$25.25
23.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69€2.32
$1.90MX$32.94
41.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.05€2.63
$2.08MX$35.98
46.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$1.78MX$30.77
2.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.45
$2.19MX$37.87
-23.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.03
$1.04MX$18.02
14.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48€0.42
$1.08MX$18.66
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.90
$4.08MX$70.7
67.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35€6.33
$10.32MX$179
-28.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.05
$1.71MX$29.67
-28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.38
$2.58MX$44.63
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48€2.13
$0.51MX$8.83
386.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9€48.14
$26.46MX$459
111.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.05
$3.26MX$56.5
44.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.97
$2.49MX$43.17
-54.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.37€35.63
$3.25MX$56.3
1172.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$1.31MX$22.65
52.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K€30.0K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
14.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K€30.9K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
53.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247€213
$82.9MX$1,436
198.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.04€10.37
$22.22MX$385
-45.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.97€24.94
$29.34MX$508
-1.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1€45.73
$51.6MX$895
2.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.34€19.24
$18.32MX$317
21.94%
Cinema Ticket
$10.50€9.04
$5.07MX$87.8
107.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$574€494
$201MX$3,480
185.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.6K
$5,212MX$90.3K
157.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4€54.6
$36.92MX$640
71.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.69€22.99
$39.79MX$689
-32.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7€74.6
$78.5MX$1,360
10.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€86.1
$87.1MX$1,509
14.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632€545
$973MX$16.9K
-34.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487€419
$468MX$8,105
4.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,203€1,036
$1,641MX$28.4K
-26.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882€760
$1,221MX$21.2K
-27.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,296€1,977
$3,946MX$68.4K
-41.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,403€1,208
$6,498MX$112.6K
-78.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arezzo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,203€1,897
$664MX$11.5K
231.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
11.42
-57.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arezzo: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $632 in Arezzo and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arezzo pays 232% 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: $60.0 in Arezzo vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Arezzo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arezzo or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Arezzo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Arezzo or Playa del Carmen?
Arezzo pays 232% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Arezzo vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $632 in Arezzo versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Arezzo and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $574 in Arezzo versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Arezzo or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Arezzo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Arezzo or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,661 in Arezzo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Arezzo. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arezzo or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Arezzo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Arezzo 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Arezzo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.