😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $673 in Alabang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,088 in Alabang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,503 in Alabang, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 91% more than Alabang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Alabang are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Alabang50% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$4.16₱256
187.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$21.07₱1,300
102.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$2.25₱139
370.67%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.72₱168
33.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.97₱60.0
51.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.38₱23.15
147.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.28₱78.7
141.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.65₱163
68.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.60₱98.4
-10.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.17₱72.1
60.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.70₱43.06
132.86%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.02₱125
30.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.22₱446
13.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.10₱191
167.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.55₱404
69.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.19₱135
21.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.43₱88.4
4.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.62₱99.8
22.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.63₱100
27.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.26₱77.4
42.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$3.26₱201
-33.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.55₱95.9
-30.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.73₱45.12
42.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.10₱129
89.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$7.46₱460
36.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.21₱74.5
42.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.79₱111
39.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.26₱15.87
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.79₱48.59
297.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.24₱14.85
900.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.17₱134
42.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.14₱70.3
11.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$25.2K₱1.6M
22.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.7K₱1.3M
12.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$46.58₱2,873
76.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$33.39₱2,060
-32.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$30.02₱1,852
-1.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$33.66₱2,076
54.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$4.54₱280
311.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$3.63₱224
36.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$67.4₱4,155
193.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$2,788₱171.9K
89.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$31.67₱1,953
14.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$17.64₱1,088
127.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$99.6₱6,142
-19.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$53.5₱3,300
66.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$249₱15.4K
286.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$178₱11.0K
161.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$583₱36.0K
173.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$393₱24.2K
207.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,683₱165.5K
46.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Alabang
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.13
40.47%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Alabang: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $249 in Alabang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $21.00 in Alabang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $179 – making Alabang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Alabang: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Alabang cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 91%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,009 in Alabang. 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 Alabang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Alabang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $21.00 in Alabang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Alabang?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Alabang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Alabang, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Alabang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Alabang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Alabang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Alabang?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Alabang. 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 otros destinos: coste de vida comparado