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: $113 in Huaraz versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $189 in Huaraz versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $266 in Huaraz versus $3,065 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 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 PEN 6.46

$1.38 MX$23.93

37.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 PEN 3.86

$1.89 MX$32.72

-39.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.88

$1.64 MX$28.32

-48.17%

Eggs

$1.37 PEN 4.67

$2.51 MX$43.34

-45.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.70 PEN 19.39

$8.34 MX$144

-31.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 PEN 23.68

$10.73 MX$186

-35.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.78

$2.60 MX$45.04

-68.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.46 MX$25.20

-60.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$1.90 MX$32.87

-56.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.98

$2.08 MX$35.91

-72.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.77

$1.78 MX$30.71

-54.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.98

$2.19 MX$37.80

-73.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$1.04 MX$17.99

-47.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.92

$1.08 MX$18.62

-75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$1.71 MX$29.61

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$2.58 MX$44.54

-26.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 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 1046% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $170 in Huaraz and $1,945 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 $113 per month in Huaraz versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 1046% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Huaraz versus $1,297 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 1046% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.