Cost of Living Comparison Between Benguela and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Benguela and Playa del Carmen
🍽 Eating Out
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.87 MX$204
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.90 MX$736
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.65 MX$183
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.45 MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.50 MX$25.81
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.95 MX$16.28
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03 MX$51.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61 MX$79.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.38 MX$23.61
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.85 MX$31.70
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.61 MX$27.65
-
Eggs
-
$2.59 MX$44.51
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.26 MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.37 MX$144
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.66 MX$183
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.63 MX$45.12
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.49 MX$25.53
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.92 MX$32.94
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.09 MX$35.81
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.86 MX$31.88
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.26 MX$38.81
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.06 MX$18.23
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09 MX$18.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15 MX$71.2
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.39 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.94 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13 MX$53.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.51 MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15 MX$54.1
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.27 MX$21.88
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4K MX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6K MX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$83.0 MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71 MX$390
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46 MX$506
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.0 MX$875
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33 MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.93 MX$84.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$197 MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90 MX$633
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89 MX$685
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0 MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5 MX$1,536
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$956 MX$16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$477 MX$8,189
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benguela
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,009 AOA 3.7M
$667 MX$11.4K
501.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
11.42
118.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benguela: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
Benguela pays 501% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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
Benguela vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Benguela or Playa del Carmen?
Benguela pays 501% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Benguela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
How safe is Benguela compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Benguela 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.
Should I move to Benguela or Playa del Carmen?
It comes down to priorities – Benguela wins on affordability, Playa del Carmen on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.