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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $376 in Aligarh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $564 in Aligarh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $751 in Aligarh, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 234% more than Aligarh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Aligarh are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Aligarh 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$3.58 ₹344
234.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$7.57 ₹729
451.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$3.41 ₹328
215.25%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$2.11 ₹204
65.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$0.26 ₹25.14
457.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$0.11 ₹10.54
700.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$1.89 ₹182
56.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$3.16 ₹304
42.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$0.72 ₹68.9
98.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$0.43 ₹41.06
327.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$0.85 ₹82.2
84.71%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$0.90 ₹86.5
178.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$4.66 ₹448
77.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$2.81 ₹270
200.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$1.42 ₹137
83.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$0.63 ₹60.4
128.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$0.90 ₹86.3
117.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$0.48 ₹46.46
335.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$0.29 ₹28.11
537.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$0.38 ₹36.69
471.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$0.60 ₹58.0
71.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$0.32 ₹30.88
234.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$4.05 ₹390
1.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$10.29 ₹991
-1.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$1.58 ₹152
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$2.73 ₹263
-7.33%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.36 ₹323
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$0.37 ₹35.38
37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$2.88 ₹277
804.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$0.30 ₹28.99
976.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$0.24 ₹23.21
904.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$1.15 ₹110
180.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$1.17 ₹113
12.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$17.4K ₹1.7M
71.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$21.9K ₹2.1M
8.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$50.5 ₹4,862
62.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$3.87 ₹373
493.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$7.89 ₹760
281.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$9.46 ₹911
449.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
$3.45 ₹332
437.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$2.94 ₹283
69.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$79.0 ₹7,607
149.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$799 ₹77.0K
567.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$28.15 ₹2,710
26.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$30.68 ₹2,953
31.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$49.11 ₹4,728
60.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$27.67 ₹2,663
221.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$59.0 ₹5,677
1505.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
$46.51 ₹4,477
919.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$117 ₹11.2K
1307.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$92.1 ₹8,869
1214.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
$1,994 ₹191.9K
103.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
$253 ₹24.3K
2460.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$1,045 ₹100.6K
-37.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.5
52.27%

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 Aligarh: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $59.0 in Aligarh. 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 60% higher in Aligarh, 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 $8.00 in Aligarh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $105 – making Aligarh 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 Aligarh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aligarh cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 234%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $564 in Aligarh. 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 Aligarh, 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 in Aligarh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $8.00 in Aligarh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Aligarh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $376 in Aligarh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Aligarh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aligarh, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Aligarh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Aligarh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aligarh – 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 Aligarh. 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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