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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,083 per month in Arica vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,646 per month in Arica vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,209 per month in Arica vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Arica is about 15% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arica and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Arica 19% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 CLP 7,666

$11.87 MX$204

-28.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.28 CLP 40.7K

$42.90 MX$736

5.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 CLP 7,048

$10.65 MX$183

-26.38%

Cappuccino

$2.71 CLP 2,434

$3.45 MX$59.2

-21.45%

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

$1.29 CLP 1,162

$1.50 MX$25.81

-14.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CLP 913

$0.95 MX$16.28

7.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 CLP 2,920

$3.03 MX$51.9

7.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 CLP 3,800

$4.61 MX$79.1

-8.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,107

$1.38 MX$23.61

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 CLP 1,424

$1.85 MX$31.70

-14.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 CLP 1,722

$1.61 MX$27.65

19.25%

Eggs

$3.57 CLP 3,204

$2.59 MX$44.51

37.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.63 CLP 9,549

$8.26 MX$142

28.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 CLP 6,141

$8.37 MX$144

-18.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 CLP 9,719

$10.66 MX$183

1.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,689

$2.63 MX$45.12

-28.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,364

$1.49 MX$25.53

2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,370

$1.92 MX$32.94

-20.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,360

$2.09 MX$35.81

-27.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,151

$1.86 MX$31.88

-31.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 CLP 1,222

$2.26 MX$38.81

-39.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 CLP 1,133

$1.06 MX$18.23

18.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 CLP 1,046

$1.09 MX$18.67

6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 CLP 4,976

$4.15 MX$71.2

33.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 CLP 5,188

$10.39 MX$178

-44.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,446

$1.72 MX$29.59

-6.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CLP 1,993

$2.61 MX$44.85

-14.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 554

$0.54 MX$9.30

14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 CLP 422

$3.13 MX$53.7

-84.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 CLP 1,275

$1.27 MX$21.88

11.81%

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

$19.4K CLP 17.4M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-36.19%

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

$21.4K CLP 19.2M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

-9.40%

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

$134 CLP 120.8K

$83.0 MX$1,425

61.90%

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

$13.48 CLP 12.1K

$22.71 MX$390

-40.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.38 CLP 20.1K

$29.46 MX$506

-24.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.17 CLP 35.2K

$51.0 MX$875

-23.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.04 CLP 18.9K

$18.33 MX$315

14.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.75 CLP 5,167

$4.93 MX$84.5

16.63%

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

$444 CLP 398.7K

$197 MX$3,386

124.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 CLP 46.4K

$36.90 MX$633

39.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.82 CLP 27.7K

$39.89 MX$685

-22.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 CLP 50.1K

$80.0 MX$1,373

-30.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 CLP 75.2K

$89.5 MX$1,536

-6.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 CLP 440.6K

$956 MX$16.4K

-48.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 331.7K

$477 MX$8,189

-22.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 804.7K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-45.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$583 CLP 524.3K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-52.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 CLP 482.0K

$667 MX$11.4K

-19.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.42

-54.64%

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

Last update for Arica: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Arica versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Arica vs $250 in Playa del Carmen – so Arica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,083 in Arica, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 17% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,625 per month in Arica and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arica, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arica and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $1,083, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,083 in Arica to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Arica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.