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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $359 in Akola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $553 in Akola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $747 in Akola, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 252% more than Akola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Akola are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Akola 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$0.91 ₹87.5
1174.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$6.25 ₹600
653.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$3.11 ₹298
281.99%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$1.36 ₹131
192.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$0.41 ₹39.12
248.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$0.14 ₹13.84
485.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$1.67 ₹160
91.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.69 ₹258
152.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$0.68 ₹65.1
147.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$0.44 ₹42.29
400.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$0.50 ₹48.10
242.00%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$0.73 ₹70.4
275.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$4.91 ₹471
95.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$2.15 ₹206
319.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$1.83 ₹176
57.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.59 ₹57.0
154.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$0.95 ₹91.5
126.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$0.47 ₹45.13
380.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$0.32 ₹30.52
518.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$0.29 ₹28.30
586.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$0.52 ₹49.60
136.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.30 ₹29.14
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$2.15 ₹206
111.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$4.05 ₹389
156.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.86 ₹178
-12.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$3.18 ₹305
-9.43%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.03 ₹195
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.25 ₹23.75
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$7.29 ₹700
295.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$0.54 ₹51.8
898.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.32 ₹31.08
1065.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$1.05 ₹101
449.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.09 ₹105
41.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$15.4K ₹1.5M
45.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$17.6K ₹1.7M
48.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$35.89 ₹3,443
154.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$4.03 ₹386
525.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$8.25 ₹791
278.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$13.93 ₹1,337
382.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$6.55 ₹629
344.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$2.15 ₹206
126.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$38.66 ₹3,709
478.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$1,781 ₹170.9K
137.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$23.56 ₹2,260
99.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$37.63 ₹3,610
17.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$53.5 ₹5,134
49.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$35.67 ₹3,422
159.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$122 ₹11.7K
768.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$72.8 ₹6,989
435.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$268 ₹25.7K
701.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$172 ₹16.5K
639.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$978 ₹93.8K
309.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$506 ₹48.6K
1184.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$307 ₹29.5K
146.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
9.7
18.04%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Akola: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $122 in Akola. 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 147% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $6.00 in Akola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $92.0 – making Akola 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
Playa del Carmen vs Akola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Akola cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 252%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $539 in Akola. 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 Akola, 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 Playa del Carmen and in Akola?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $359 in Akola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 295% less in Akola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Akola?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Akola, where all-in costs run around $359, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Akola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Akola more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Akola – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Akola. 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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