πA single person spends $1,066 per month in Artvin vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,666 per month in Artvin vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,266 per month in Artvin vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πArtvin is about 16% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Artvin and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median β Artvin21% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.71βΊ357
$11.87MX$204
-35.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.43βΊ1,408
$42.90MX$736
-29.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.68βΊ355
$10.65MX$183
-27.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83βΊ131
$3.45MX$59.2
-17.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28βΊ59.2
$1.50MX$25.81
-14.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46βΊ21.41
$0.95MX$16.28
-51.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43βΊ159
$3.03MX$51.9
13.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86βΊ178
$4.61MX$79.1
-16.27%
π Groceries & Markets
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96βΊ44.47
$1.38MX$23.61
-30.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78βΊ36.01
$1.85MX$31.70
-57.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26βΊ105
$1.61MX$27.65
40.37%
Eggs
$1.91βΊ88.5
$2.59MX$44.51
-26.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.33βΊ432
$8.26MX$142
12.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.66βΊ262
$8.37MX$144
-32.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.76βΊ914
$10.66MX$183
85.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31βΊ60.5
$2.63MX$45.12
-50.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11βΊ97.4
$1.49MX$25.53
41.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05βΊ48.68
$1.92MX$32.94
-45.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31βΊ60.6
$2.09MX$35.81
-37.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69βΊ31.87
$1.86MX$31.88
-62.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64βΊ29.39
$2.26MX$38.81
-71.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91βΊ42.31
$1.06MX$18.23
-14.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53βΊ24.33
$1.09MX$18.67
-51.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14βΊ99.2
$4.15MX$71.2
-48.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.75βΊ451
$10.39MX$178
-6.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15βΊ99.6
$1.72MX$29.59
25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01βΊ139
$2.61MX$44.85
15.33%
π Getting Around
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66βΊ30.64
$0.54MX$9.30
22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.97βΊ1,433
$26.94MX$462
14.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09βΊ50.3
$3.13MX$53.7
-65.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65βΊ30.21
$2.51MX$43.09
-74.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.54βΊ349
$3.15MX$54.1
139.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17βΊ54.0
$1.27MX$21.88
-7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7KβΊ2.0M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
43.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.1KβΊ2.0M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
87.21%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.5βΊ2,889
$83.0MX$1,425
-24.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.87βΊ503
$22.71MX$390
-52.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.09βΊ606
$29.46MX$506
-55.57%
π Sport & Entertainment
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.37βΊ2,007
$51.0MX$875
-14.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.76βΊ267
$4.93MX$84.5
16.84%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$622βΊ28.8K
$197MX$3,386
215.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,903βΊ411.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
68.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2βΊ2,368
$36.90MX$633
38.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43βΊ2,055
$39.89MX$685
11.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103βΊ4,788
$80.0MX$1,373
29.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2βΊ4,079
$89.5MX$1,536
-1.45%
π Accommodation & Living
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506βΊ23.4K
$956MX$16.4K
-47.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$387βΊ17.9K
$477MX$8,189
-18.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873βΊ40.4K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-46.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716βΊ33.1K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-41.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,242βΊ57.5K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-68.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$858βΊ39.7K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-86.72%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Artvin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
36.83
11.42
222.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Artvin: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $506 in Artvin 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.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Artvin versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $250 β making Artvin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Artvin vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Artvin?
Yes β Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,600 per month in Artvin and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Artvin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Artvin and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 9% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Artvin or Playa del Carmen?
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Artvin or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Artvin, where all-in costs run around $1,066, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Artvin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Artvin or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Artvin β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Artvin or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Artvin. 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.