Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $110 in Huaraz versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $184 in Huaraz versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $258 in Huaraz versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Huaraz costs roughly 91% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huaraz 92% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

$1.43 MX$25.12

39.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 PEN 3.81

$1.84 MX$32.23

-39.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$1.57 MX$27.51

-48.41%

Eggs

$1.38 PEN 4.68

$2.51 MX$44.06

-45.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.50 PEN 18.67

$8.28 MX$145

-33.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 PEN 23.66

$10.68 MX$187

-34.64%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.87

$2.61 MX$45.76

-67.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$1.44 MX$25.22

-63.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.77

$1.96 MX$34.41

-58.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$2.09 MX$36.74

-74.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$1.85 MX$32.47

-56.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$2.17 MX$38.02

-73.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.03 MX$18.09

-44.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.07 MX$18.84

-72.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PEN 5.56

$1.68 MX$29.38

-2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.49

$2.53 MX$44.31

-24.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$520.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$415.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,439

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Huaraz: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

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

Huaraz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huaraz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 1045% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $165 in Huaraz and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 122% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $110 per month in Huaraz versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 1045% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $110 in Huaraz versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huaraz but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Huaraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huaraz 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.

Safety-wise, Huaraz 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.

Expats usually find Huaraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1045% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.