😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $369 in Akola, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $555 in Akola, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $741 in Akola, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 241% more than Akola, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Akola are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Akola72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$0.89₹85.2
1247.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$7.33₹706
469.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$2.98₹287
260.74%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$1.55₹149
125.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$0.48₹46.51
202.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.16₹15.59
450.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$1.78₹171
65.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$3.01₹290
49.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$0.71₹68.2
101.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.47₹44.95
291.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$0.60₹57.4
161.67%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$0.81₹78.4
209.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$5.51₹531
50.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$2.39₹230
252.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$2.01₹194
29.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$0.60₹57.9
140.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$1.03₹99.5
90.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$0.64₹61.5
226.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$0.39₹37.57
374.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$0.34₹32.54
538.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$0.51₹48.87
101.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.33₹31.89
224.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$2.35₹226
74.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$4.27₹411
138.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$2.11₹203
-20.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$4.02₹387
-37.06%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$2.36₹227
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$0.22₹21.14
131.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$6.94₹669
275.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$0.60₹57.3
438.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$0.24₹23.12
904.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.43₹138
125.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$1.20₹116
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$11.7K₹1.1M
153.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$16.5K₹1.6M
43.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$32.04₹3,084
155.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$3.57₹343
542.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$8.52₹820
253.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$17.31₹1,667
200.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$3.41₹328
443.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$3.55₹342
40.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$52.0₹5,002
279.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$1,599₹153.9K
233.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$21.00₹2,022
69.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$27.37₹2,635
47.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$57.0₹5,486
38.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$35.91₹3,457
147.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$119₹11.4K
698.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$68.6₹6,605
590.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$228₹22.0K
619.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$141₹13.6K
758.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
$3,345₹322.0K
21.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
$1,681₹161.8K
284.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$315₹30.3K
107.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.21
24.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Akola: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $119 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 107% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $7.00 in Akola. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $102 – 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 241%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $553 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $369 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 275% 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 $369, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared