🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Dilijan versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,935 in Dilijan versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,671 in Dilijan versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Dilijan costs roughly 7% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dilijan10% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.60֏3,937
$11.94MX$208
-11.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.99֏14.8K
$42.75MX$744
-6.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.77֏2,886
$10.59MX$184
-26.63%
Cappuccino
$2.67֏993
$3.62MX$63.0
-26.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96֏356
$1.47MX$25.54
-34.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53֏198
$0.94MX$16.41
-43.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81֏673
$3.09MX$53.8
-41.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56֏949
$4.46MX$77.6
-42.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65֏614
$1.43MX$24.80
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84֏312
$1.88MX$32.79
-55.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32֏863
$1.63MX$28.34
42.33%
Eggs
$2.36֏876
$2.64MX$45.99
-10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.15֏3,027
$8.21MX$143
-0.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22֏2,682
$8.29MX$144
-12.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.15֏4,511
$11.10MX$193
9.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32֏490
$2.65MX$46.14
-50.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55֏576
$1.50MX$26.11
3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70֏631
$1.99MX$34.59
-14.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24֏831
$2.08MX$36.13
7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76֏282
$1.79MX$31.11
-57.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73֏270
$2.18MX$37.87
-66.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90֏333
$1.08MX$18.73
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68֏254
$1.04MX$18.04
-34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57֏954
$3.97MX$69.1
-35.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04֏2,986
$10.20MX$178
-21.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29֏479
$1.73MX$30.04
-25.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26֏840
$2.50MX$43.46
-9.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25֏92.7
$0.52MX$9.02
-51.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53֏569
$3.14MX$54.7
-51.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31֏116
$2.40MX$41.80
-87.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.57֏1,698
$3.09MX$53.7
47.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41֏525
$1.27MX$22.16
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K֏11.8M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K֏13.7M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
58.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120֏44.5K
$82.0MX$1,427
46.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57֏2,811
$22.45MX$391
-66.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.74֏7,703
$29.66MX$516
-30.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.2֏33.5K
$51.9MX$903
73.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.66֏987
$4.97MX$86.5
-46.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156֏58.0K
$198MX$3,442
-21.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,757֏2.9M
$5,273MX$91.7K
47.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112֏41.6K
$36.34MX$632
208.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.9֏22.2K
$40.05MX$697
49.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142֏52.8K
$79.9MX$1,390
78.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137֏51.0K
$88.9MX$1,547
54.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$554֏205.7K
$963MX$16.8K
-42.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373֏138.7K
$465MX$8,086
-19.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963֏357.6K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-39.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$845֏313.8K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-30.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dilijan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$680֏252.7K
$720MX$12.5K
-5.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.53
11.42
35.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dilijan: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $554 in Dilijan and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 6% 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: $40.00 in Dilijan vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $251 per month, with Dilijan 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
Dilijan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dilijan and Playa del Carmen?
Dilijan and Playa del Carmen differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,199 vs $1,287 including rent). Dilijan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 6% 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 Dilijan and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $554 in Dilijan versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dilijan or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,199 per month in Dilijan versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,199 in Dilijan versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dilijan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Dilijan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dilijan and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Is Dilijan or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dilijan 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.
Where should expats move: Dilijan or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Dilijan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.