🙂A single person spends $1,152 per month in Pergamino vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,820 per month in Pergamino vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,488 per month in Pergamino vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Pergamino is about 10% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Pergamino and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Pergamino14% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.82ARS 20.7K
$11.94MX$209
24.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.97ARS 41.8K
$42.75MX$748
-29.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.92ARS 16.6K
$10.59MX$185
12.56%
Cappuccino
$3.92ARS 5,475
$3.62MX$63.4
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02ARS 2,820
$1.47MX$25.69
37.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52ARS 2,123
$0.94MX$16.51
61.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49ARS 4,875
$3.09MX$54.1
12.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03ARS 2,837
$4.46MX$78.0
-54.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52ARS 2,116
$1.43MX$24.94
6.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56ARS 3,573
$1.88MX$32.97
36.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31ARS 3,219
$1.63MX$28.50
41.72%
Eggs
$2.36ARS 3,295
$2.64MX$46.26
-10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.91ARS 16.6K
$8.21MX$144
45.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92ARS 4,078
$8.29MX$145
-64.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.27ARS 12.9K
$11.10MX$194
-16.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46ARS 3,431
$2.65MX$46.40
-7.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01ARS 2,808
$1.50MX$26.26
34.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31ARS 1,831
$1.99MX$34.79
-34.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04ARS 2,847
$2.08MX$36.33
-1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50ARS 2,091
$1.79MX$31.29
-16.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49ARS 2,078
$2.18MX$38.09
-31.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82ARS 2,535
$1.08MX$18.84
68.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47ARS 2,052
$1.04MX$18.15
41.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29ARS 4,586
$3.97MX$69.5
-17.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.95ARS 6,912
$10.20MX$179
-51.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98ARS 2,762
$1.73MX$30.22
14.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17ARS 4,416
$2.50MX$43.71
26.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82ARS 1,147
$0.52MX$9.07
57.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.64ARS 2,292
$3.14MX$55.0
-47.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78ARS 1,095
$2.40MX$42.04
-67.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.94ARS 8,287
$3.09MX$54.0
92.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12ARS 1,559
$1.27MX$22.28
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KARS 27.9M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-35.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KARS 35.3M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
8.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113ARS 157.0K
$82.0MX$1,435
37.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.31ARS 29.7K
$22.45MX$393
-5.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.46ARS 39.7K
$29.66MX$519
-4.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.47ARS 36.9K
$51.9MX$908
-48.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82ARS 19.3K
$18.67MX$327
-25.98%
Cinema Ticket
$8.83ARS 12.3K
$4.97MX$87.0
77.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325ARS 453.5K
$198MX$3,462
64.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280ARS 7.4M
$5,273MX$92.3K
0.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112ARS 156.5K
$36.34MX$636
208.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.5ARS 117.9K
$40.05MX$701
110.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124ARS 173.5K
$79.9MX$1,398
55.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133ARS 186.2K
$88.9MX$1,555
50.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$332ARS 462.6K
$963MX$16.9K
-65.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239ARS 333.5K
$465MX$8,133
-48.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673ARS 938.8K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-57.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534ARS 745.1K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-55.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202ARS 3.1M
$3,942MX$69.0K
-44.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
52.71
11.42
361.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pergamino: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $332 in Pergamino versus $963 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 $30.00 in Pergamino versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $251 – making Pergamino 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
Pergamino vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Pergamino?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,729 per month in Pergamino and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pergamino, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pergamino vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,152 in Pergamino and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $325 per month in Pergamino and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pergamino or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pergamino, where all-in costs run around $1,152, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Pergamino it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pergamino or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pergamino – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pergamino or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pergamino. 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.