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 $811 per month in Matagalpa vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,228 per month in Matagalpa vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,645 per month in Matagalpa vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Matagalpa is about 36% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Matagalpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Matagalpa 41% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.93 NIO 254

$11.60 MX$200

-40.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.35 NIO 928

$47.11 MX$812

-46.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 NIO 274

$11.88 MX$205

-37.04%

Cappuccino

$2.52 NIO 92.2

$3.98 MX$68.6

-36.68%

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

$0.85 NIO 31.24

$1.43 MX$24.60

-40.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 NIO 15.72

$0.82 MX$14.22

-47.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 NIO 45.20

$3.19 MX$55.0

-61.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.2

$6.79 MX$117

-70.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 NIO 44.43

$1.68 MX$28.89

-27.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 NIO 45.08

$2.20 MX$37.88

-44.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 NIO 62.7

$1.71 MX$29.45

Eggs

$2.36 NIO 86.6

$2.74 MX$47.26

-13.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.70 NIO 98.9

$9.58 MX$165

-71.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 NIO 155

$9.01 MX$155

-52.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.76 NIO 248

$12.81 MX$221

-47.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 NIO 134

$2.89 MX$49.81

26.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.63 NIO 22.91

$1.50 MX$25.81

-58.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67.2

$2.15 MX$37.03

-14.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 NIO 82.2

$2.26 MX$38.96

-0.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.94 NIO 144

$1.98 MX$34.15

98.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 NIO 79.3

$1.99 MX$34.30

9.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.64

$1.23 MX$21.28

-18.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 NIO 39.06

$1.20 MX$20.63

-10.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NIO 95.1

$4.55 MX$78.5

-42.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.08 NIO 369

$10.37 MX$179

-2.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 NIO 43.94

$1.62 MX$27.91

-25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 NIO 86.0

$2.88 MX$49.67

-18.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NIO 8.35

$0.60 MX$10.35

-61.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 NIO 41.42

$5.39 MX$92.9

-79.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 NIO 44.88

$3.73 MX$64.3

-67.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 NIO 247

$5.77 MX$99.5

16.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 NIO 48.26

$1.54 MX$26.48

-14.29%

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

$23.2K NIO 849.4K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

2.85%

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

$26.7K NIO 976.6K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

2.34%

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

$59.4 NIO 2,174

$91.4 MX$1,576

-35.03%

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

$17.10 NIO 626

$25.20 MX$435

-32.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.40 NIO 1,370

$31.24 MX$539

19.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$8.65 NIO 317

$4.86 MX$83.8

77.98%

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

$233 NIO 8,523

$224 MX$3,856

4.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 NIO 224.5K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

44.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.7 NIO 2,625

$47.10 MX$812

52.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.8 NIO 2,664

$44.29 MX$764

64.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,819

$80.1 MX$1,381

64.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,930

$92.7 MX$1,598

15.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 NIO 7,459

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-80.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 NIO 6,424

$390 MX$6,728

-55.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 NIO 10.8K

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-86.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 NIO 9,087

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-80.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 NIO 7,295

$758 MX$13.1K

-73.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.45

-10.48%

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

Last update for Matagalpa: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Matagalpa versus $1,063 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 281% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $276 – 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: $811 in Matagalpa, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 56% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,217 per month in Matagalpa and $1,899 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $811, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $811 in Matagalpa to $1,266 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.