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

😐 Solo nomad: Aruba is 56.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 127.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Aruba is 77% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 137.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.22 AWG 23.67
$11.85 MX$205
11.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.3 AWG 158
$42.16 MX$730
109.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.97 AWG 17.85
$10.75 MX$186
-7.26%
Cappuccino
$4.79 AWG 8.57
$3.47 MX$60.2
38.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 AWG 4.10
$1.45 MX$25.17
57.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 AWG 3.69
$0.90 MX$15.64
128.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.15 AWG 7.43
$3.05 MX$52.9
36.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 AWG 10.98
$4.42 MX$76.5
38.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 AWG 4.09
$1.37 MX$23.72
66.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.79 AWG 6.78
$1.87 MX$32.43
102.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 AWG 7.07
$1.54 MX$26.74
156.49%
Eggs
$5.50 AWG 9.85
$2.50 MX$43.36
120.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.06 AWG 57.4
$8.61 MX$149
272.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 AWG 11.88
$8.63 MX$150
-23.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.14 AWG 30.68
$11.02 MX$191
55.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.83 AWG 10.43
$2.75 MX$47.62
112.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 AWG 5.10
$1.43 MX$24.73
99.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.98 AWG 12.49
$1.87 MX$32.44
273.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.15 AWG 14.59
$2.17 MX$37.54
275.58%
Potato (1kg)
$4.02 AWG 7.20
$1.88 MX$32.61
113.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 AWG 6.78
$2.25 MX$38.91
68.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.12 AWG 10.95
$1.07 MX$18.49
471.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.68 AWG 6.59
$1.07 MX$18.59
243.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.77 AWG 31.82
$4.15 MX$72.0
328.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.34 AWG 32.83
$10.34 MX$179
77.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.68 MX$29.08
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 AWG 8.79
$2.48 MX$43.02
97.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$9.61
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.53 MX$459
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.22 MX$55.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 MX$42.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$53.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 AWG 2.49
$1.26 MX$21.75
10.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.7K MX$531.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0K MX$416.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$256 AWG 459
$82.5 MX$1,429
210.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$131 AWG 235
$22.29 MX$386
489.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 AWG 123
$30.02 MX$520
129.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 AWG 109
$51.4 MX$891
18.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 AWG 23.01
$4.98 MX$86.3
158.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$298 AWG 533
$200 MX$3,464
48.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K AWG 32.2K
$5,304 MX$91.9K
238.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.53 AWG 88.7
$35.71 MX$618
38.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 AWG 115
$39.56 MX$685
62.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 AWG 218
$80.6 MX$1,395
51.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.3 MX$1,530
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$744 AWG 1,332
$969 MX$16.8K
-23.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,423 AWG 2,548
$482 MX$8,352
195.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,209 AWG 5,744
$1,595 MX$27.6K
101.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,061 AWG 7,270
$1,184 MX$20.5K
243.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,050 MX$70.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,522 MX$113.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,905 AWG 3,409
$756 MX$13.1K
151.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
11.42
-38.70%

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

Last update for Aruba: March 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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