πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,069 in Coquimbo versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,622 in Coquimbo versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,176 in Coquimbo versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Coquimbo costs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo20% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66CLPΒ 7,783
$11.87MX$204
-27.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.66CLPΒ 40.1K
$42.90MX$736
4.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21CLPΒ 7,378
$10.65MX$183
-22.91%
Cappuccino
$2.72CLPΒ 2,441
$3.45MX$59.2
-21.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30CLPΒ 1,165
$1.50MX$25.81
-13.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02CLPΒ 915
$0.95MX$16.28
7.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21CLPΒ 2,883
$3.03MX$51.9
5.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06CLPΒ 3,650
$4.61MX$79.1
-11.93%
π Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06CLPΒ 950
$1.38MX$23.61
-23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53CLPΒ 1,374
$1.85MX$31.70
-17.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92CLPΒ 1,726
$1.61MX$27.65
19.25%
Eggs
$3.43CLPΒ 3,079
$2.59MX$44.51
32.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.34CLPΒ 9,295
$8.26MX$142
25.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.72CLPΒ 6,039
$8.37MX$144
-19.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.79CLPΒ 9,695
$10.66MX$183
1.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82CLPΒ 1,633
$2.63MX$45.12
-30.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52CLPΒ 1,362
$1.49MX$25.53
2.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55CLPΒ 1,391
$1.92MX$32.94
-19.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45CLPΒ 1,304
$2.09MX$35.81
-30.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27CLPΒ 1,143
$1.86MX$31.88
-31.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42CLPΒ 1,277
$2.26MX$38.81
-37.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27CLPΒ 1,141
$1.06MX$18.23
19.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19CLPΒ 1,068
$1.09MX$18.67
9.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.51CLPΒ 4,950
$4.15MX$71.2
32.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02CLPΒ 5,411
$10.39MX$178
-42.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56CLPΒ 1,402
$1.72MX$29.59
-9.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21CLPΒ 1,988
$2.61MX$44.85
-15.33%
π Getting Around
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63CLPΒ 564
$0.54MX$9.30
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLPΒ 419
$3.13MX$53.7
-84.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.51MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.15MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37CLPΒ 1,235
$1.27MX$21.88
7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KCLPΒ 17.6M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-35.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCLPΒ 19.1M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-9.74%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132CLPΒ 118.9K
$83.0MX$1,425
59.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.32CLPΒ 12.0K
$22.71MX$390
-41.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.78CLPΒ 19.6K
$29.46MX$506
-26.07%
π Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.95CLPΒ 34.1K
$51.0MX$875
-25.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.29CLPΒ 19.1K
$18.33MX$315
16.15%
Cinema Ticket
$5.81CLPΒ 5,222
$4.93MX$84.5
17.85%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438CLPΒ 394.0K
$197MX$3,386
122.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6CLPΒ 46.4K
$36.90MX$633
39.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.86CLPΒ 26.8K
$39.89MX$685
-25.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.1CLPΒ 55.8K
$80.0MX$1,373
-22.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2CLPΒ 74.8K
$89.5MX$1,536
-7.01%
π Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$486CLPΒ 436.4K
$956MX$16.4K
-49.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373CLPΒ 335.5K
$477MX$8,189
-21.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892CLPΒ 801.6K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-45.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$592CLPΒ 531.7K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-51.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$661CLPΒ 594.3K
$667MX$11.4K
-0.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.42
-54.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquimbo: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Coquimbo and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Playa del Carmen pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $45.00 in Coquimbo vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $250, with Coquimbo 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
Coquimbo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Coquimbo and Playa del Carmen?
Coquimbo and Playa del Carmen differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,069 vs $1,271 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Coquimbo and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Coquimbo versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Coquimbo and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $438 in Coquimbo versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo β a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,069 in Coquimbo versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Coquimbo and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Coquimbo or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet β expenses run 19% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.