😐A single person spends $1,769 per month in Cagliari vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,759 per month in Cagliari vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,749 per month in Cagliari vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Cagliari costs about 41% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Cagliari sits 32% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.89€20.05
$11.99MX$209
90.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.8€80.4
$41.78MX$728
119.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02€9.65
$10.75MX$187
2.51%
Cappuccino
$1.77€1.55
$3.50MX$60.9
-49.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.57
$1.45MX$25.22
102.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.24
$0.88MX$15.41
60.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.80€5.08
$2.95MX$51.3
96.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.13
$4.51MX$78.6
4.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58€1.38
$1.43MX$24.94
10.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33€2.04
$1.84MX$31.99
26.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45€3.02
$1.57MX$27.31
119.75%
Eggs
$3.35€2.94
$2.51MX$43.74
33.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.95€14.84
$8.28MX$144
104.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.86€11.26
$8.43MX$147
52.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.39€16.98
$10.68MX$186
81.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$2.61MX$45.43
-5.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$1.44MX$25.04
15.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$1.96MX$34.16
11.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71€3.25
$2.09MX$36.47
77.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89€1.66
$1.85MX$32.24
2.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.80
$2.17MX$37.74
-5.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.23
$1.03MX$17.96
36.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.49
$1.07MX$18.70
-47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€6.06
$4.10MX$71.4
68.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84€6.86
$10.17MX$177
-22.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.42
$1.68MX$29.17
-2.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.20
$2.53MX$43.98
-46.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48€1.29
$0.51MX$8.87
190.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.39€35.38
$26.04MX$453
55.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84€3.36
$3.23MX$56.3
18.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16€1.02
$2.41MX$41.88
-51.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.02€25.42
$3.23MX$56.2
798.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.84
$1.32MX$23.00
59.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K€29.7K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
14.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.3K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
51.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180€158
$82.0MX$1,428
119.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14€11.51
$22.95MX$400
-42.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16€27.29
$30.11MX$524
3.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6€45.18
$52.0MX$905
-0.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.77€39.21
$18.53MX$323
141.61%
Cinema Ticket
$10.66€9.33
$4.98MX$86.6
114.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551€482
$197MX$3,438
178.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,000€7,007
$5,336MX$92.9K
49.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8€78.6
$35.60MX$620
152.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3€55.5
$40.33MX$702
57.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8€74.2
$78.8MX$1,371
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€105
$88.9MX$1,549
34.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$923€808
$947MX$16.5K
-2.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655€574
$474MX$8,254
38.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,477€1,294
$1,644MX$28.6K
-10.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,004€879
$1,211MX$21.1K
-17.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,348€2,932
$4,056MX$70.6K
-17.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372€2,077
$6,470MX$112.7K
-63.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cagliari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,848€1,618
$654MX$11.4K
182.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
11.42
-57.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cagliari: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $923 in Cagliari versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 183% higher in Cagliari, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Cagliari versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Cagliari vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Cagliari?
Yes – Cagliari is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,653 per month in Cagliari and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 55% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $551 per month in Cagliari and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cagliari or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Cagliari at $1,769. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cagliari it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cagliari or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cagliari or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cagliari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.