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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Matagalpa vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Matagalpa vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,684 per month in Matagalpa vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Matagalpa is about 31% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Matagalpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Matagalpa 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 NIO 177

$11.72 MX$203

-58.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.23 NIO 924

$41.89 MX$725

-39.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 NIO 252

$10.51 MX$182

-34.44%

Cappuccino

$2.41 NIO 88.4

$3.59 MX$62.0

-32.87%

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

$0.80 NIO 29.14

$1.51 MX$26.10

-47.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 NIO 17.23

$0.92 MX$15.83

-48.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 NIO 43.07

$2.96 MX$51.2

-60.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 NIO 74.9

$4.41 MX$76.3

-53.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 NIO 41.84

$1.40 MX$24.16

-18.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 NIO 54.2

$1.88 MX$32.60

-21.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 NIO 59.7

$1.56 MX$26.97

4.49%

Eggs

$2.19 NIO 80.1

$2.61 MX$45.14

-16.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.89 NIO 69.1

$8.32 MX$144

-77.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 NIO 154

$8.35 MX$145

-49.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 NIO 248

$10.86 MX$188

-37.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.83 NIO 140

$2.71 MX$46.93

41.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.35

$1.51 MX$26.04

-39.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.4

$1.87 MX$32.41

-1.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 NIO 82.8

$2.19 MX$37.89

3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 NIO 39.62

$1.86 MX$32.14

-41.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 NIO 81.5

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 NIO 26.10

$1.07 MX$18.48

-33.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 NIO 35.80

$1.09 MX$18.79

-10.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.6

$4.19 MX$72.4

-36.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.06 NIO 368

$10.43 MX$180

-3.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 NIO 46.22

$1.66 MX$28.68

-24.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NIO 80.4

$2.61 MX$45.19

-16.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 NIO 16.46

$0.54 MX$9.37

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 NIO 30.98

$3.08 MX$53.3

-72.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.94 NIO 34.37

$2.40 MX$41.61

-60.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 NIO 253

$3.13 MX$54.1

121.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 NIO 47.63

$1.31 MX$22.69

-0.76%

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

$22.9K NIO 836.9K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-23.33%

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

$26.8K NIO 982.5K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

15.02%

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

$52.3 NIO 1,914

$81.3 MX$1,406

-35.69%

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

$17.10 NIO 626

$22.56 MX$390

-24.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.25 NIO 1,291

$30.05 MX$520

17.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$8.12 NIO 297

$4.92 MX$85.1

65.04%

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

$102 NIO 3,731

$201 MX$3,474

-49.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,017 NIO 220.4K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

16.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 NIO 2,824

$35.92 MX$622

114.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 NIO 2,648

$40.13 MX$694

80.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,832

$79.7 MX$1,379

65.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 3,985

$86.5 MX$1,496

25.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 NIO 5,720

$978 MX$16.9K

-84.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 NIO 9,624

$470 MX$8,140

-44.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 NIO 20.0K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-67.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 NIO 13.5K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-69.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$100 NIO 3,678

$677 MX$11.7K

-85.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.42

-10.25%

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

Last update for Matagalpa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Matagalpa versus $978 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.

Salaries run about 574% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Matagalpa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $252 – making Matagalpa 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Matagalpa, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 45% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,299 per month in Matagalpa and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matagalpa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Matagalpa and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matagalpa, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Matagalpa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Matagalpa to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Matagalpa. 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.