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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $311 in Artigas versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $369 in Artigas versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $426 in Artigas versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Artigas costs roughly 75% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Artigas 77% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$731

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$188

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.1

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

$1.45 MX$25.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.42

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.92

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.62

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.15

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.31

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.62

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.37

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 UYU 48.28

$0.51 MX$8.90

135.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.40 UYU 1,786

$26.04 MX$455

70.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 UYU 60.0

$3.23 MX$56.5

-53.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 UYU 62.2

$2.41 MX$42.06

-35.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.10 UYU 447

$3.23 MX$56.5

243.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.50 UYU 100

$1.32 MX$23.10

89.39%

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

$39.3K UYU 1.6M

$29.7K MX$519.2K

32.35%

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

$39.2K UYU 1.6M

$23.7K MX$413.7K

65.78%

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

$169 UYU 6,779

$82.0 MX$1,434

105.47%

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

$22.95 MX$401

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.53 UYU 1,550

$30.11 MX$527

27.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.25 UYU 1,177

$52.0 MX$909

-43.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$8.40 UYU 338

$4.98 MX$87.0

68.67%

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

$197 MX$3,452

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$705

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,377

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,288

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Artigas: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 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

Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 303% 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.

You'd need roughly $467 in Artigas and $1,884 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.

A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 71% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $311 per month in Artigas versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $311 in Artigas versus $1,256 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.

Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $311 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 303% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.