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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $632 in Machala versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in Machala versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,379 in Machala versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Machala costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machala 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.43 $2.43

$11.94 MX$209

-79.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 $24.77

$42.75 MX$748

-42.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 $6.64

$10.59 MX$185

-37.30%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$3.62 MX$63.4

-27.35%

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

$0.76 $0.76

$1.47 MX$25.69

-48.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.94 MX$16.51

-47.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.09 MX$54.1

-36.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.46 MX$78.0

-1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.43 MX$24.94

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.88 MX$32.97

-44.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.63 MX$28.50

-41.72%

Eggs

$1.51 $1.51

$2.64 MX$46.26

-42.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$8.21 MX$144

-59.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$8.29 MX$145

-51.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$11.10 MX$194

-57.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.65 MX$46.40

-22.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.50 MX$26.26

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.99 MX$34.79

-63.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.08 MX$36.33

-48.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$1.79 MX$31.29

-77.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$2.18 MX$38.09

-76.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 $0.37

$1.08 MX$18.84

-65.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.04 MX$18.15

-2.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.97 MX$69.5

9.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$10.20 MX$179

-27.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.73 MX$30.22

-5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.50 MX$43.71

-12.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.52 MX$9.07

-30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.27 $24.27

$26.97 MX$472

-10.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

$3.14 MX$55.0

-51.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.40 MX$42.04

-57.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.17 $8.17

$3.09 MX$54.0

164.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$1.27 MX$22.28

-53.54%

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

$18.3K $18.3K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-40.74%

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

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

-6.40%

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

$38.13 $38.13

$82.0 MX$1,435

-53.51%

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

$13.93 $13.93

$22.45 MX$393

-37.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 $26.57

$29.66 MX$519

-10.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$51.9 MX$908

-18.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 $14.78

$18.67 MX$327

-20.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 $5.03

$4.97 MX$87.0

1.21%

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

$134 $134

$198 MX$3,462

-32.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,947 $5,947

$5,273 MX$92.3K

12.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$36.34 MX$636

43.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$40.05 MX$701

9.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$79.9 MX$1,398

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 $68.0

$88.9 MX$1,555

-23.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 $188

$963 MX$16.9K

-80.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 $134

$465 MX$8,133

-71.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 $352

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-77.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 $262

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-78.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,346 $1,346

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-65.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$763 $763

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-88.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$441 $441

$720 MX$12.6K

-38.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-56.22%

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

Last update for Machala: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $188 in Machala and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 63% 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: $25.00 in Machala vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $144 vs $251 per month, with Machala 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

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

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 63% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $188 in Machala versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $632 per month in Machala versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $632 in Machala versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala 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.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.