πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $311 in Artigas versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $367 in Artigas versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $424 in Artigas versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Artigas costs roughly 76% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Artigas77% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.73MX$203
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.62MX$720
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.64MX$184
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.52MX$60.9
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51MX$26.12
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97MX$16.84
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45MX$77.0
-
π Groceries & Markets
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.38MX$23.93
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.89MX$32.72
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.64MX$28.32
-
Eggs
-
$2.51MX$43.34
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.34MX$144
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.34MX$144
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.73MX$186
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.60MX$45.04
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.46MX$25.20
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.90MX$32.87
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.08MX$35.91
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.78MX$30.71
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.19MX$37.80
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.04MX$17.99
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.08MX$18.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.08MX$70.6
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58MX$44.54
-
π Getting Around
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.21UYUΒ 48.73
$0.51MX$8.81
137.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.57UYUΒ 1,797
$26.46MX$458
68.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45UYUΒ 58.3
$3.26MX$56.4
-55.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57UYUΒ 63.4
$2.49MX$43.09
-36.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.96UYUΒ 442
$3.25MX$56.2
237.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.40UYUΒ 96.9
$1.31MX$22.61
83.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9KUYUΒ 1.6M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
28.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KUYUΒ 1.6M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
68.13%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174UYUΒ 7,004
$82.9MX$1,433
109.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.22MX$384
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.02UYUΒ 1,573
$29.34MX$507
32.99%
π Sport & Entertainment
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.31UYUΒ 1,182
$51.6MX$893
-43.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.64UYUΒ 348
$5.07MX$87.6
70.41%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$201MX$3,473
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,212MX$90.1K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.92MX$639
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.79MX$688
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$78.5MX$1,357
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$87.1MX$1,506
-
π Accommodation & Living
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Artigas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Artigas: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 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
Artigas vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Artigas or Playa del Carmen?
Artigas wins on cost β living expenses run 317% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Artigas vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $466 in Artigas and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How expensive is transport in Artigas vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 68% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How much does it cost to live in Artigas compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $311 per month in Artigas versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen β a 317% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Artigas or Playa del Carmen?
At $311 in Artigas versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Artigas or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $311 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet β expenses run 317% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.