Cost of Living Comparison Between Magallanes, Cavite and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Magallanes, Cavite and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $778 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,216 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,653 per month in Magallanes, Cavite vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Magallanes, Cavite is about 40% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Magallanes, Cavite and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Magallanes, Cavite 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 ₱221
$11.73 MX$203
-69.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.07 ₱1,114
$41.62 MX$720
-56.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.27 ₱202
$10.64 MX$184
-69.27%
Cappuccino
$2.42 ₱149
$3.52 MX$60.9
-31.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱47.65
$1.51 MX$26.12
-49.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱24.15
$0.97 MX$16.84
-59.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 ₱82.8
$2.95 MX$51.0
-54.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₱135
$4.45 MX$77.0
-51.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ₱116
$1.38 MX$23.93
36.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 ₱74.6
$1.89 MX$32.72
-35.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱62.2
$1.64 MX$28.32
-38.41%
Eggs
$2.02 ₱124
$2.51 MX$43.34
-19.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.80 ₱481
$8.34 MX$144
-6.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 ₱264
$8.34 MX$144
-48.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.94 ₱490
$10.73 MX$186
-26.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 ₱185
$2.60 MX$45.04
15.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 ₱98.5
$1.46 MX$25.20
9.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 ₱165
$1.90 MX$32.87
40.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 ₱99.7
$2.08 MX$35.91
-22.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 ₱137
$1.78 MX$30.71
24.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 ₱156
$2.19 MX$37.80
15.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₱68.3
$1.04 MX$17.99
6.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₱44.68
$1.08 MX$18.62
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80 ₱173
$4.08 MX$70.6
-31.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 ₱474
$10.32 MX$178
-25.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₱71.0
$1.71 MX$29.61
-32.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₱121
$2.58 MX$44.54
-24.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.87
$0.51 MX$8.81
-49.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 ₱50.1
$3.26 MX$56.4
-75.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.84
$2.49 MX$43.09
-90.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 ₱130
$3.25 MX$56.2
-35.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₱69.8
$1.31 MX$22.61
-13.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ₱1.6M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-13.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₱1.3M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-13.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 ₱6,819
$82.9 MX$1,433
33.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.74 ₱2,019
$22.22 MX$384
47.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.08 ₱1,670
$29.34 MX$507
-7.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.69 ₱2,077
$51.6 MX$893
-34.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.51 ₱278
$18.32 MX$317
-75.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.85 ₱361
$5.07 MX$87.6
15.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 ₱9,308
$201 MX$3,473
-24.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,337 ₱267.4K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-16.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.84 ₱2,827
$36.92 MX$639
24.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.69 ₱1,646
$39.79 MX$688
-32.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.6 ₱4,603
$78.5 MX$1,357
-4.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.5 ₱3,300
$87.1 MX$1,506
-38.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₱16.3K
$973 MX$16.8K
-72.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₱10.8K
$468 MX$8,090
-62.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 ₱36.3K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 ₱24.7K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-67.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,646 ₱163.2K
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-32.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,110 ₱68.5K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-82.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magallanes, Cavite
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$664 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%

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

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $264 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $249 – making Magallanes, Cavite the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Magallanes, Cavite vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 67% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Magallanes, Cavite vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,167 per month in Magallanes, Cavite and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Magallanes, Cavite vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Magallanes, Cavite and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $778 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Magallanes, Cavite or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Magallanes, Cavite. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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