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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $817 in Abovyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,305 in Abovyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,792 in Abovyan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 58% more than Abovyan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and Abovyan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Abovyan 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$11.15 ֏4,050
5.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$48.56 ֏17.6K
-4.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$9.74 ֏3,539
19.61%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$3.59 ֏1,305
13.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$1.18 ֏428
16.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.66 ֏240
25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$2.54 ֏923
31.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$3.20 ֏1,164
115.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.63 ֏592
6.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$0.99 ֏359
128.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$2.20 ֏798
-19.55%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$2.71 ֏986
0.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$8.09 ֏2,938
13.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$7.43 ֏2,701
20.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$13.61 ֏4,946
-7.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$1.34 ֏487
125.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$1.74 ֏632
-9.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$1.95 ֏710
9.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$2.40 ֏872
-5.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$0.70 ֏254
185.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$0.64 ֏232
221.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$0.88 ֏319
34.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.80 ֏289
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$2.79 ֏1,015
65.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$11.08 ֏4,027
-3.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$1.50 ֏543
8.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$2.07 ֏752
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$0.53 ֏193
7.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$1.33 ֏485
309.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$0.39 ֏143
848.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$12.82 ֏4,658
-53.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.48 ֏537
4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$35.7K ֏13.0M
-37.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$33.7K ֏12.2M
-22.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$123 ֏44.8K
-27.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$9.23 ֏3,354
171.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$22.81 ֏8,288
38.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$8.16 ֏2,965
-38.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$337 ֏122.3K
-33.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$10.1K ֏3.7M
-58.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$97.8 ֏35.5K
-51.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$54.9 ֏20.0K
-18.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$138 ֏50.1K
-40.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$157 ֏57.0K
-41.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Abovyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$992 ֏360.6K
-24.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
13.8
-17.03%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Abovyan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 33% higher in Abovyan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $49.00 in Abovyan. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $235 in Abovyan – so Abovyan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Playa del Carmen vs Abovyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abovyan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 58%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,226 in Abovyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Abovyan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $49.00 in Abovyan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Abovyan?
Groceries cost about 18% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Abovyan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abovyan, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Abovyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Abovyan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abovyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Abovyan?
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 Abovyan. 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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