😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $367 in Akola, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $558 in Akola, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $750 in Akola, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 254% more than Akola, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Akola are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Akola73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$0.93₹88.7
1161.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$7.34₹699
467.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$2.96₹281
259.46%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.49₹142
136.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.46₹43.50
228.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.15₹14.42
546.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.79₹171
64.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.98₹283
49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$0.78₹73.9
76.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.47₹44.69
302.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$0.61₹57.8
168.85%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$0.80₹76.6
213.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$5.69₹542
46.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$2.37₹226
251.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.99₹189
30.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$0.61₹57.8
139.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$0.99₹94.5
91.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$0.64₹60.9
225.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.39₹37.60
356.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.33₹31.76
563.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.51₹48.29
103.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.30₹28.97
260.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.38₹226
71.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$4.26₹405
142.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.18₹207
-21.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.97₹378
-35.01%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$2.39₹228
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.22₹20.95
131.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$6.78₹646
290.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$0.61₹57.8
434.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.22₹20.91
1031.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$1.48₹141
119.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.19₹114
10.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$11.4K₹1.1M
165.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$16.8K₹1.6M
39.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$32.47₹3,093
155.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$3.70₹352
500.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$8.74₹833
235.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$17.21₹1,639
200.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$3.55₹338
416.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$3.39₹323
49.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$52.3₹4,980
284.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$1,574₹149.9K
231.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$21.05₹2,005
75.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$26.68₹2,541
49.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$55.8₹5,316
40.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$35.54₹3,385
145.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$114₹10.9K
751.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$70.7₹6,739
561.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$230₹21.9K
613.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$137₹13.0K
791.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$3,399₹323.8K
16.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,661₹158.2K
291.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Akola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$318₹30.3K
108.58%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Akola: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $114 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 109% 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 $103 – 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 254%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $550 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 vs Akola?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $367 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 290% less in Akola. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Akola?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Akola, where all-in costs run around $367, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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