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 $1,086 per month in Arica vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,650 per month in Arica vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,215 per month in Arica vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Arica is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arica and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Arica 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.54 CLP 7,947

$11.72 MX$203

-27.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.21 CLP 41.1K

$41.89 MX$725

5.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.09 CLP 7,527

$10.51 MX$182

-23.03%

Cappuccino

$2.76 CLP 2,569

$3.59 MX$62.0

-23.12%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,217

$1.51 MX$26.10

-13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 982

$0.92 MX$15.83

15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 CLP 3,033

$2.96 MX$51.2

10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 CLP 4,004

$4.41 MX$76.3

-2.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CLP 1,151

$1.40 MX$24.16

-11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 CLP 1,390

$1.88 MX$32.60

-20.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,792

$1.56 MX$26.97

23.72%

Eggs

$3.62 CLP 3,370

$2.61 MX$45.14

38.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CLP 9,780

$8.32 MX$144

26.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 CLP 6,120

$8.35 MX$145

-21.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.05 CLP 10.3K

$10.86 MX$188

1.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 CLP 1,679

$2.71 MX$46.93

-33.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CLP 1,399

$1.51 MX$26.04

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,478

$1.87 MX$32.41

-14.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,355

$2.19 MX$37.89

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 CLP 1,144

$1.86 MX$32.14

-33.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,295

$2.23 MX$38.59

-37.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,165

$1.07 MX$18.48

16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 CLP 1,091

$1.09 MX$18.79

7.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 CLP 4,975

$4.19 MX$72.4

27.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 CLP 5,181

$10.43 MX$180

-46.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,440

$1.66 MX$28.68

-6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CLP 2,171

$2.61 MX$45.19

-10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 CLP 549

$0.54 MX$9.37

9.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 CLP 468

$3.08 MX$53.3

-83.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CLP 1,266

$1.31 MX$22.69

3.82%

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

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-33.64%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.7M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-9.10%

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

$131 CLP 121.6K

$81.3 MX$1,406

60.84%

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

$13.57 CLP 12.6K

$22.56 MX$390

-39.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$30.05 MX$520

-27.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.79 CLP 36.1K

$52.9 MX$915

-26.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.34 CLP 19.9K

$18.39 MX$318

16.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 CLP 5,124

$4.92 MX$85.1

11.99%

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

$435 CLP 404.4K

$201 MX$3,474

116.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 CLP 46.6K

$35.92 MX$622

39.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.44 CLP 28.3K

$40.13 MX$694

-24.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.7 CLP 53.7K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-27.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 CLP 77.9K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 CLP 443.4K

$978 MX$16.9K

-51.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 CLP 354.0K

$470 MX$8,140

-19.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 CLP 839.9K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-45.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 CLP 548.1K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-51.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$527 CLP 490.6K

$677 MX$11.7K

-22.07%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Arica versus $978 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 $44.00 in Arica versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Arica vs $252 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: $1,086 in Arica, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 16% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Arica and $1,890 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 $44.00 in Arica and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,086, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $1,086 in Arica to $1,260 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.