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 $1,077 per month in Arica vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,647 per month in Arica vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,217 per month in Arica vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Arica is about 16% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arica and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Arica 20% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 CLP 7,513

$11.94 MX$209

-29.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.24 CLP 40.2K

$42.75 MX$748

5.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 CLP 6,985

$10.59 MX$185

-25.78%

Cappuccino

$2.85 CLP 2,539

$3.62 MX$63.4

-21.27%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,162

$1.47 MX$25.69

-10.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 940

$0.94 MX$16.51

12.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.27 CLP 2,907

$3.09 MX$54.1

5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 CLP 3,734

$4.46 MX$78.0

-5.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,089

$1.43 MX$24.94

-14.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,389

$1.88 MX$32.97

-17.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,668

$1.63 MX$28.50

15.34%

Eggs

$3.44 CLP 3,059

$2.64 MX$46.26

30.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 CLP 9,242

$8.21 MX$144

26.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 CLP 5,908

$8.29 MX$145

-19.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 CLP 9,571

$11.10 MX$194

-3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,615

$2.65 MX$46.40

-31.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,337

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,366

$1.99 MX$34.79

-22.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 CLP 1,355

$2.08 MX$36.33

-26.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,091

$1.79 MX$31.29

-31.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,200

$2.18 MX$38.09

-38.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,116

$1.08 MX$18.84

15.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,077

$1.04 MX$18.15

16.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 CLP 4,695

$3.97 MX$69.5

33.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 CLP 1,423

$1.73 MX$30.22

-7.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 1,984

$2.50 MX$43.71

-10.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 CLP 542

$0.52 MX$9.07

17.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 454

$3.14 MX$55.0

-83.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,279

$1.27 MX$22.28

13.39%

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

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-36.26%

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

$21.8K CLP 19.4M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-6.52%

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

$134 CLP 119.1K

$82.0 MX$1,435

63.28%

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

$13.61 CLP 12.1K

$22.45 MX$393

-39.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.36 CLP 19.9K

$29.66 MX$519

-24.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 CLP 34.0K

$51.9 MX$908

-26.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 19.2K

$18.67 MX$327

15.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 CLP 5,096

$4.97 MX$87.0

15.29%

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

$430 CLP 382.4K

$198 MX$3,462

117.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 CLP 45.5K

$36.34 MX$636

40.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.34 CLP 27.0K

$40.05 MX$701

-24.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.9 CLP 50.6K

$79.9 MX$1,398

-28.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 CLP 72.5K

$88.9 MX$1,555

-8.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 CLP 433.2K

$963 MX$16.9K

-49.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 CLP 328.4K

$465 MX$8,133

-20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 CLP 782.3K

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-44.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 CLP 523.6K

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-51.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 CLP 499.5K

$720 MX$12.6K

-22.02%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Arica versus $963 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 28% 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 – $216 in Arica vs $251 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: $1,077 in Arica, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 19% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,615 per month in Arica and $1,930 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 16% 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 $1,077, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $1,077 in Arica to $1,287 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.