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

😐 Solo nomad: Aruba is 45.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 122.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Aruba is 79.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 130.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 AWG 23.40
$11.61 MX$200
12.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 AWG 161
$42.75 MX$738
110.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 AWG 18.24
$10.60 MX$183
-3.87%
Cappuccino
$4.75 AWG 8.49
$3.59 MX$62.0
32.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 AWG 4.03
$1.45 MX$25.08
55.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 AWG 3.57
$0.90 MX$15.50
121.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.21 AWG 7.53
$3.03 MX$52.4
38.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 AWG 10.71
$4.56 MX$78.8
31.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 AWG 4.27
$1.45 MX$25.07
64.14%
White Bread (500g)
$3.81 AWG 6.83
$1.83 MX$31.55
108.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 AWG 7.01
$1.61 MX$27.77
143.48%
Eggs
$5.54 AWG 9.91
$2.54 MX$43.82
118.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.43 AWG 58.1
$8.54 MX$148
279.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 AWG 11.60
$8.47 MX$146
-23.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.25 AWG 30.87
$10.86 MX$188
58.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.85 AWG 10.48
$2.73 MX$47.13
114.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 AWG 5.02
$1.49 MX$25.77
87.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.89 AWG 12.34
$1.94 MX$33.55
255.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.24 AWG 14.75
$2.16 MX$37.38
281.48%
Potato (1kg)
$4.08 AWG 7.30
$1.85 MX$31.88
120.54%
Onion (1kg)
$3.64 AWG 6.52
$2.19 MX$37.80
66.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.10 AWG 10.93
$1.07 MX$18.52
470.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 AWG 6.66
$1.08 MX$18.71
244.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.65 AWG 31.59
$4.06 MX$70.1
334.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.08 AWG 32.36
$10.46 MX$181
72.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.65 MX$28.56
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 AWG 8.97
$2.55 MX$44.01
96.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.56 MX$9.60
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14 MX$54.2
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.37 MX$40.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24 MX$56.0
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 AWG 2.43
$1.31 MX$22.70
3.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$256 AWG 458
$83.1 MX$1,436
207.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$132 AWG 237
$22.15 MX$383
497.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3 AWG 121
$29.37 MX$507
129.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 AWG 108
$51.2 MX$884
17.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.86 AWG 23.01
$4.89 MX$84.4
162.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 AWG 535
$199 MX$3,431
50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K AWG 31.4K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
236.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2 AWG 89.8
$35.93 MX$621
39.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2 AWG 118
$39.39 MX$680
67.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 AWG 215
$80.3 MX$1,387
49.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$87.6 MX$1,512
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$726 AWG 1,299
$963 MX$16.6K
-24.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,387 AWG 2,482
$482 MX$8,326
187.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,149 AWG 5,637
$1,645 MX$28.4K
91.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,953 AWG 7,077
$1,192 MX$20.6K
231.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aruba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,932 AWG 3,458
$726 MX$12.5K
166.00%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 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

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