🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,864 in Acheres.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,878 in Acheres.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,892 in Acheres.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 31% less than in Acheres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Acheres is 40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$17.92€15.43
-34.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$69.0€59.4
-39.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$13.93€12.00
-25.27%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$3.81€3.28
-5.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$3.33€2.87
-56.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$2.07€1.79
-53.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$8.05€6.93
-63.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$5.90€5.08
-21.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$1.54€1.32
-7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$1.73€1.49
9.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$3.06€2.64
-48.69%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$3.94€3.39
-32.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$22.15€19.07
-61.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$12.92€11.12
-33.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$23.92€20.59
-54.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$3.75€3.23
-28.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$2.17€1.87
-30.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$2.43€2.09
-21.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$3.26€2.81
-33.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$1.99€1.71
-6.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$2.10€1.81
6.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$1.60€1.38
-32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.64€0.55
67.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$13.62€11.73
-69.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$8.46€7.29
21.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$2.40€2.06
-30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$4.29€3.70
-41.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$2.01€1.73
-72.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$48.92€42.13
-46.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$4.65€4.00
-31.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$1.81€1.56
35.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$32.06€27.61
-90.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$2.01€1.73
-34.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$37.3K€32.1K
-19.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$38.1K€32.8K
-38.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$195€168
-58.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$23.52€20.25
-4.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$29.49€25.40
1.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$37.78€32.53
36.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
$18.41€15.85
-0.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$14.26€12.28
-63.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$579€499
-65.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$8,476€7,299
-37.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$89.3€76.9
-60.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$37.23€32.06
8.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$84.2€72.5
-6.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$106€91.4
-18.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$763€657
24.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$626€539
-23.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$1,404€1,209
15.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$1,084€933
12.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$4,098€3,529
-2.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$3,315€2,854
95.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Acheres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$3,927€3,381
-82.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.69
209.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Acheres: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $763 in Acheres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acheres pays 484% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Acheres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $383 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Acheres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acheres cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Acheres?
On paper, Acheres earns 484% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Acheres?
Rent for a central apartment: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $763 in Acheres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Acheres?
All in, you'll spend $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,864 in Acheres – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 86% less than in Acheres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Acheres?
At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,864 in Acheres, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Acheres. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Acheres more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Acheres, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Acheres?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Acheres are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Acheres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared