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

🙂 Solo nomad: Madang is 41.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 56.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Madang is 42.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 39% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58 PGK 28.63
$11.85 MX$205
-44.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.88 PGK 165
$42.16 MX$730
-10.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 PGK 47.65
$10.75 MX$186
1.95%
Cappuccino
$2.46 PGK 10.71
$3.47 MX$60.2
-29.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 PGK 5.10
$1.45 MX$25.17
-19.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 PGK 3.18
$0.90 MX$15.64
-18.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 PGK 12.67
$3.05 MX$52.9
-4.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 PGK 18.89
$4.42 MX$76.5
-1.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 PGK 8.26
$1.37 MX$23.72
38.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 PGK 6.36
$1.87 MX$32.43
-21.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 PGK 6.37
$1.54 MX$26.74
-5.19%
Eggs
$3.43 PGK 14.93
$2.50 MX$43.36
37.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.61 MX$149
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.66 PGK 24.61
$8.63 MX$150
-34.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.95 PGK 34.59
$11.02 MX$191
-27.86%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 PGK 22.83
$2.75 MX$47.62
90.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 PGK 10.37
$1.43 MX$24.73
66.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PGK 4.36
$1.87 MX$32.44
-46.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 PGK 8.18
$2.17 MX$37.54
-13.36%
Potato (1kg)
$4.94 PGK 21.49
$1.88 MX$32.61
162.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 PGK 12.28
$2.25 MX$38.91
25.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.98 PGK 26.03
$1.07 MX$18.49
458.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 PGK 2.13
$1.07 MX$18.59
-54.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17 PGK 22.48
$4.15 MX$72.0
24.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.78 PGK 51.2
$10.34 MX$179
13.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 PGK 9.67
$1.68 MX$29.08
32.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 PGK 10.72
$2.48 MX$43.02
-0.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$9.61
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.53 MX$459
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.22 MX$55.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 MX$42.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$53.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 PGK 4.79
$1.26 MX$21.75
-12.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.7K MX$531.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0K MX$416.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.2 PGK 297
$82.5 MX$1,429
-17.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.29 MX$386
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.73 PGK 103
$30.02 MX$520
-20.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.4 MX$891
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.98 MX$86.3
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.5 PGK 346
$200 MX$3,464
-60.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,066 PGK 26.4K
$5,304 MX$91.9K
14.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.37 PGK 84.3
$35.71 MX$618
-45.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.36 PGK 62.5
$39.56 MX$685
-63.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 PGK 290
$80.6 MX$1,395
-17.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.50 PGK 124
$88.3 MX$1,530
-67.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$969 MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 MX$8,352
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 PGK 4,259
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-38.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$594 PGK 2,585
$1,184 MX$20.5K
-49.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,050 MX$70.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,522 MX$113.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$231 PGK 1,007
$756 MX$13.1K
-69.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Madang: March 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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