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: $2,367 in Augusta, ME versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,339 in Augusta, ME versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,312 in Augusta, ME versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Augusta, ME is roughly 87% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Augusta, ME is 73% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$11.60 MX$200

72.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 $52.4

$47.11 MX$812

11.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.25 $10.25

$11.88 MX$205

-13.72%

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$3.98 MX$68.6

32.91%

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

$2.28 $2.28

$1.43 MX$24.60

59.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.82 MX$14.22

89.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.19 MX$55.0

54.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.52 $7.52

$6.79 MX$117

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.68 MX$28.89

-32.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.20 MX$37.88

97.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.71 MX$29.45

-13.45%

Eggs

$3.83 $3.83

$2.74 MX$47.26

39.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$9.58 MX$165

57.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.88 $13.88

$9.01 MX$155

54.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$12.81 MX$221

48.63%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 $7.41

$2.89 MX$49.81

156.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.50 MX$25.81

-16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.15 MX$37.03

49.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.26 MX$38.96

102.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.98 MX$34.15

12.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.99 MX$34.30

37.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.23 MX$21.28

68.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.20 MX$20.63

43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.97 $11.97

$4.55 MX$78.5

163.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 $13.12

$10.37 MX$179

26.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.62 MX$27.91

-1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.88 MX$49.67

-46.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 $2.59

$5.39 MX$92.9

-51.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$3.73 MX$64.3

-67.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.20 $28.20

$5.77 MX$99.5

388.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.54 MX$26.48

-45.45%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

60.85%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-5.56%

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

$246 $246

$91.4 MX$1,576

169.45%

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

$45.73 $45.73

$25.20 MX$435

81.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$31.24 MX$539

92.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 $22.42

$67.2 MX$1,159

-66.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$4.86 MX$83.8

183.13%

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

$2,893 $2,893

$224 MX$3,856

1193.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K $36.2K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

757.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.0 $73.0

$47.10 MX$812

54.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.45 $48.45

$44.29 MX$764

9.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$80.1 MX$1,381

47.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$92.7 MX$1,598

84.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 $1,184

$1,063 MX$18.3K

11.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 $1,083

$390 MX$6,728

177.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-26.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 $1,475

$1,272 MX$21.9K

15.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,351 $2,351

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-41.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,393 $2,393

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-63.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,956 $1,956

$758 MX$13.1K

158.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

11.45

-45.15%

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

Last update for Augusta, ME: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,184 in Augusta, ME and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Augusta, ME pays 158% 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: $52.0 in Augusta, ME vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $276 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 87% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,266 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 158% 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: $1,184 in Augusta, ME versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,893 in Augusta, ME versus $224 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 $47.00 versus $52.0 in Augusta, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,367 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 87% less than in Augusta, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.