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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,213 per month in Pergamino vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,938 per month in Pergamino vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,664 per month in Pergamino vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Pergamino is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pergamino and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Pergamino 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.71 ARS 22.0K
$13.02 MX$221
12.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.76 ARS 44.6K
$46.25 MX$784
-35.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.12 ARS 19.6K
$12.59 MX$213
4.21%
Cappuccino
$4.02 ARS 6,017
$4.00 MX$67.9
0.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ARS 2,930
$1.42 MX$24.08
38.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ARS 2,222
$0.81 MX$13.73
82.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.87 ARS 5,789
$3.05 MX$51.7
26.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,071
$6.82 MX$116
-69.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ARS 2,113
$1.71 MX$29.04
-17.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 ARS 3,777
$2.22 MX$37.62
13.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ARS 2,251
$1.72 MX$29.13
-12.79%
Eggs
$2.42 ARS 3,624
$2.71 MX$45.99
-10.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.45 ARS 15.6K
$9.37 MX$159
11.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 ARS 4,369
$8.86 MX$150
-67.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.88 ARS 17.8K
$12.78 MX$217
-7.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 ARS 4,168
$3.13 MX$53.0
-11.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 ARS 3,103
$1.55 MX$26.24
33.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ARS 2,230
$2.15 MX$36.51
-30.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 ARS 2,953
$2.35 MX$39.89
-16.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 ARS 1,662
$2.02 MX$34.23
-45.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 ARS 1,683
$1.99 MX$33.67
-43.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 ARS 2,485
$1.24 MX$21.09
33.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,393
$1.19 MX$20.21
34.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ARS 6,409
$4.65 MX$78.8
-7.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.40 ARS 8,079
$10.47 MX$177
-48.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 ARS 2,930
$1.58 MX$26.82
24.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ARS 4,474
$2.92 MX$49.48
2.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 ARS 1,484
$0.56 MX$9.53
76.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.76 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 ARS 2,388
$5.32 MX$90.2
-69.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ARS 1,181
$3.72 MX$63.0
-78.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.95 ARS 11.9K
$5.78 MX$97.9
37.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ARS 1,756
$1.55 MX$26.27
-24.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2K ARS 30.3M
$22.4K MX$379.1K
-9.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K ARS 36.7M
$25.6K MX$433.3K
-4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.9 ARS 121.1K
$89.3 MX$1,513
-9.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68 ARS 34.0K
$23.30 MX$395
-2.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.73 ARS 44.5K
$31.72 MX$538
-6.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.75 ARS 46.0K
$68.8 MX$1,165
-55.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.67 ARS 17.5K
$5.06 MX$85.7
130.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 ARS 456.7K
$222 MX$3,765
37.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,534 ARS 12.8M
$4,293 MX$72.7K
98.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 ARS 167.8K
$46.21 MX$783
142.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$96.4 ARS 144.3K
$44.43 MX$753
117.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ARS 186.4K
$95.5 MX$1,618
30.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ARS 195.5K
$92.5 MX$1,568
41.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 ARS 767.0K
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-52.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 ARS 481.9K
$393 MX$6,663
-18.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,091 ARS 1.6M
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-45.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 ARS 1.0M
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-46.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,315 ARS 3.5M
$4,037 MX$68.4K
-42.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 ARS 1.7M
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-82.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pergamino
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$747 MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
54.72
11.6
371.72%

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

Last update for Pergamino: August 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $512 in Pergamino versus $1,069 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $277 – 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 10%, 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 $1,819 per month in Pergamino and $1,995 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,213 in Pergamino and $1,330 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 $305 per month in Pergamino and $222 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 living in Pergamino or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pergamino, where all-in costs run around $1,213, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. 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.

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