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 $842 per month in Matagalpa vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,258 per month in Matagalpa vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,674 per month in Matagalpa vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Matagalpa is about 34% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Matagalpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Matagalpa 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 NIO 176

$11.87 MX$204

-59.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 NIO 912

$42.90 MX$736

-41.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 NIO 249

$10.65 MX$183

-36.15%

Cappuccino

$2.41 NIO 88.4

$3.45 MX$59.2

-30.14%

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

$0.85 NIO 31.09

$1.50 MX$25.81

-43.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 NIO 16.96

$0.95 MX$16.28

-51.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 NIO 43.52

$3.03 MX$51.9

-60.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 NIO 73.7

$4.61 MX$79.1

-56.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 NIO 43.53

$1.38 MX$23.61

-13.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.0

$1.85 MX$31.70

-17.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 NIO 57.5

$1.61 MX$27.65

-2.48%

Eggs

$2.19 NIO 80.2

$2.59 MX$44.51

-15.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.90 NIO 69.7

$8.26 MX$142

-77.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.11 NIO 151

$8.37 MX$144

-50.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 NIO 248

$10.66 MX$183

-36.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 NIO 142

$2.63 MX$45.12

47.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.17

$1.49 MX$25.53

-38.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 NIO 64.4

$1.92 MX$32.94

-8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.4

$2.09 MX$35.81

9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 NIO 41.32

$1.86 MX$31.88

-39.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 80.0

$2.26 MX$38.81

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 NIO 24.81

$1.06 MX$18.23

-35.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 NIO 36.10

$1.09 MX$18.67

-9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.5

$4.15 MX$71.2

-36.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 NIO 362

$10.39 MX$178

-4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 NIO 43.78

$1.72 MX$29.59

-30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NIO 80.3

$2.61 MX$44.85

-16.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 NIO 17.82

$0.54 MX$9.30

-9.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 NIO 30.71

$3.13 MX$53.7

-73.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 NIO 33.18

$2.51 MX$43.09

-63.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 NIO 245

$3.15 MX$54.1

112.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NIO 50.1

$1.27 MX$21.88

7.87%

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

$23.3K NIO 854.5K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-23.18%

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

$26.4K NIO 967.8K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

12.14%

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

$52.6 NIO 1,928

$83.0 MX$1,425

-36.58%

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

$17.24 NIO 632

$22.71 MX$390

-24.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.43 NIO 1,297

$29.46 MX$506

20.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 NIO 299

$4.93 MX$84.5

65.52%

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

$99.9 NIO 3,658

$197 MX$3,386

-49.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,958 NIO 218.2K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

12.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 NIO 2,781

$36.90 MX$633

105.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.1 NIO 2,639

$39.89 MX$685

80.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,854

$80.0 MX$1,373

65.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,035

$89.5 MX$1,536

23.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 NIO 5,735

$956 MX$16.4K

-83.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 NIO 9,764

$477 MX$8,189

-44.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 NIO 20.2K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-66.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 NIO 13.5K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-69.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$100 NIO 3,665

$667 MX$11.4K

-85.00%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $157 in Matagalpa versus $956 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 567% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $250 – 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: $842 in Matagalpa, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 51% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,263 per month in Matagalpa and $1,906 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $842, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $842 in Matagalpa to $1,271 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.