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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,751 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,900 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,049 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 26% cheaper than Ahuachapan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Ahuachapan is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$8.17 $8.17

43.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$35.40 $35.40

17.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.92 $6.92

53.76%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$3.28 $3.28

7.32%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.09 $1.09

38.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.92 $0.92

5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$2.03 $2.03

45.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$2.98 $2.98

49.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.85 $1.85

-25.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$1.98 $1.98

-4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.56 $1.56

5.13%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.80 $2.80

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$7.16 $7.16

16.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$6.73 $6.73

23.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$11.06 $11.06

-2.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$3.22 $3.22

-19.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.67 $1.67

-12.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$2.52 $2.52

-24.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$2.73 $2.73

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$2.14 $2.14

-16.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$2.11 $2.11

3.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.00 $1.00

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$1.08 $1.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$3.90 $3.90

4.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$11.15 $11.15

-7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.74 $1.74

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.40 $2.40

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$5.53 $5.53

-41.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$3.12 $3.12

-20.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$19.95 $19.95

-83.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.99 $0.99

32.32%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

20.22%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$27.8K $27.8K

-15.61%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$101 $101

-18.20%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$18.94 $18.94

17.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$41.26 $41.26

-28.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$5.26 $5.26

-3.61%

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

$201 MX$3,480

$146 $146

38.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$5,884 $5,884

-11.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$66.5 $66.5

-44.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$43.79 $43.79

-9.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$116 $116

-32.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$104 $104

-16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$524 $524

85.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$1,007 $1,007

-53.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$373 $373

339.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$397 $397

207.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

$3,110 $3,110

26.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

$1,310 $1,310

396.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$566 $566

17.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

8.58

33.10%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ahuachapan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $524 in Ahuachapan. 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 17% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $35.00 in Ahuachapan. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $257 in Ahuachapan – so Playa del Carmen 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 Ahuachapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $1,751 in Ahuachapan – roughly 35% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,626 in Ahuachapan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,751 in Ahuachapan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $146 in Ahuachapan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Ahuachapan at $1,751. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,751 in Ahuachapan. 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ahuachapan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.