😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,621 in Augustow versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,358 in Augustow versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Augustow versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Augustow is roughly 25% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Augustow is 21% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02zł 40.17
$11.73MX$203
-6.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1zł 212
$41.62MX$719
39.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33zł 34.04
$10.64MX$184
-12.31%
Cappuccino
$4.28zł 15.59
$3.52MX$60.8
21.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12zł 7.71
$1.51MX$26.09
40.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88zł 6.86
$0.97MX$16.82
93.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.42zł 16.13
$2.95MX$51.0
49.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53zł 16.52
$4.45MX$77.0
1.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15zł 4.19
$1.38MX$23.90
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40zł 5.11
$1.89MX$32.69
-25.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86zł 6.77
$1.64MX$28.29
13.41%
Eggs
$3.67zł 13.37
$2.51MX$43.30
46.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21zł 37.23
$8.34MX$144
22.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83zł 24.92
$8.34MX$144
-18.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.38zł 52.4
$10.73MX$185
34.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25zł 4.55
$2.60MX$45.00
-51.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87zł 6.83
$1.46MX$25.18
28.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95zł 7.12
$1.90MX$32.84
2.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67zł 13.38
$2.08MX$35.88
76.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10zł 3.99
$1.78MX$30.68
-38.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20zł 4.37
$2.19MX$37.76
-45.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50zł 5.46
$1.04MX$17.97
44.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69zł 2.51
$1.08MX$18.60
-36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36zł 19.56
$4.08MX$70.5
31.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.27zł 30.15
$10.32MX$178
-19.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39zł 5.06
$1.71MX$29.59
-18.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95zł 7.10
$2.58MX$44.50
-24.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12zł 4.09
$0.51MX$8.81
119.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.12zł 117
$26.46MX$457
21.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76zł 10.08
$3.26MX$56.4
-15.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03zł 3.75
$2.49MX$43.05
-58.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.45zł 49.04
$3.25MX$56.1
313.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72zł 6.27
$1.31MX$22.59
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2Kzł 121.0K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
9.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4Kzł 121.9K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
42.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$355zł 1,295
$82.9MX$1,432
328.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.06zł 36.69
$22.22MX$384
-54.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.07zł 62.2
$29.34MX$507
-41.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.81zł 134
$51.6MX$892
-28.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.63zł 71.6
$18.32MX$317
7.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.23zł 33.65
$5.07MX$87.5
82.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$585zł 2,134
$201MX$3,470
191.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kzł 56.7K
$5,212MX$90.1K
198.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.1zł 358
$36.92MX$638
165.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.93zł 171
$39.79MX$688
17.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8zł 342
$78.5MX$1,356
19.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110zł 400
$87.1MX$1,505
25.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640zł 2,332
$973MX$16.8K
-34.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$502zł 1,831
$468MX$8,082
7.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$993zł 3,622
$1,641MX$28.4K
-39.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816zł 2,976
$1,221MX$21.1K
-33.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,062zł 11.2K
$3,946MX$68.2K
-22.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,323zł 8,470
$6,498MX$112.3K
-64.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Augustow
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,567zł 5,713
$664MX$11.5K
135.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.05
11.42
-38.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Augustow: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $640 in Augustow and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 136% 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: $58.0 in Augustow vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $249, with Augustow cheaper for home cooking.
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
Augustow vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Augustow or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Augustow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Augustow or Playa del Carmen?
Augustow pays 136% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Augustow vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $640 in Augustow versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Augustow and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $585 in Augustow versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Augustow or Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Augustow pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Augustow or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,621 in Augustow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Augustow. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Augustow or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Augustow compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Augustow and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Augustow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.