Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Augusta, ME and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,241 in Augusta, ME versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,281 in Augusta, ME versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,322 in Augusta, ME versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Augusta, ME is roughly 78% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Augusta, ME is 68% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.25 $20.25

$11.72 MX$203

72.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$41.89 MX$725

79.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 $7.62

$10.51 MX$182

-27.50%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$3.59 MX$62.0

37.05%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$1.51 MX$26.10

54.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.92 MX$15.83

111.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.96 MX$51.2

73.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.41 MX$76.3

34.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.40 MX$24.16

-21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.88 MX$32.60

85.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.56 MX$26.97

17.95%

Eggs

$3.80 $3.80

$2.61 MX$45.14

45.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.04 $17.04

$8.32 MX$144

104.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.35 MX$145

43.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.48 $18.48

$10.86 MX$188

70.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.71 MX$46.93

62.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.51 MX$26.04

-13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.87 MX$32.41

68.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$2.19 MX$37.89

203.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.86 MX$32.14

19.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.23 MX$38.59

46.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.07 MX$18.48

164.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.09 MX$18.79

41.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.83 $8.83

$4.19 MX$72.4

110.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$10.43 MX$180

28.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.66 MX$28.68

71.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.61 MX$45.19

-25.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.54 MX$9.37

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.08 MX$53.3

-17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$2.40 MX$41.61

-47.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.68 $27.68

$3.13 MX$54.1

784.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.31 MX$22.69

-31.30%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-0.54%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

8.85%

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

$193 $193

$81.3 MX$1,406

138.05%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$22.56 MX$390

160.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.5 $76.5

$30.05 MX$520

154.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.06 $30.06

$52.9 MX$915

-43.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$12.75 $12.75

$4.92 MX$85.1

159.15%

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

$2,743 $2,743

$201 MX$3,474

1266.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

436.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$35.92 MX$622

84.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$40.13 MX$694

9.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$79.7 MX$1,379

6.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$86.5 MX$1,496

68.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,040 $1,040

$978 MX$16.9K

6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$934 $934

$470 MX$8,140

98.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,598 $1,598

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-3.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 $1,494

$1,203 MX$20.8K

24.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,397 $2,397

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-39.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,399 $2,399

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-63.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,994 $1,994

$677 MX$11.7K

194.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

11.42

-43.70%

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

Last update for Augusta, ME: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,040 in Augusta, ME and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Augusta, ME pays 195% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Augusta, ME vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Augusta, ME vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta, ME and Playa del Carmen differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($2,241 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 195% higher in Augusta, ME, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,040 in Augusta, ME versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,743 in Augusta, ME versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $75.0 in Augusta, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,241 in Augusta, ME, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Augusta, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Augusta, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.