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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $371 in Aligarh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $571 in Aligarh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $770 in Aligarh, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 249% more than Aligarh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Aligarh are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Aligarh 72% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$3.68 ₹350
218.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$7.81 ₹744
432.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$3.55 ₹339
199.72%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.00 ₹191
76.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.24 ₹22.69
529.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.10 ₹9.93
870.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.89 ₹180
56.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$3.03 ₹289
46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$0.76 ₹72.7
81.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$0.42 ₹39.97
350.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$0.85 ₹81.0
92.94%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$0.89 ₹84.7
182.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$4.55 ₹434
83.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$2.82 ₹269
195.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$1.41 ₹135
84.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$0.60 ₹56.8
143.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$0.89 ₹84.3
113.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$0.46 ₹43.52
352.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$0.29 ₹27.97
513.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$0.39 ₹36.91
461.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$0.56 ₹53.7
85.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.32 ₹30.53
237.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$4.15 ₹395
-1.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$11.28 ₹1,074
-8.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.58 ₹151
8.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$2.82 ₹269
-8.51%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.28 ₹313
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.36 ₹34.61
41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$2.90 ₹276
812.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.28 ₹26.59
1064.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.22 ₹20.85
1031.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$1.19 ₹113
173.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.12 ₹107
16.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$17.1K ₹1.6M
76.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$21.4K ₹2.0M
9.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$50.9 ₹4,850
62.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$3.75 ₹357
492.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$8.13 ₹774
260.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$9.49 ₹904
444.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$3.50 ₹334
423.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$2.93 ₹279
73.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$79.7 ₹7,594
151.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$798 ₹76.1K
552.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$27.45 ₹2,615
34.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$30.98 ₹2,951
28.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$49.41 ₹4,707
58.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$27.32 ₹2,603
218.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$57.5 ₹5,480
1590.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$46.23 ₹4,403
911.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$118 ₹11.2K
1290.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$92.4 ₹8,804
1220.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$1,991 ₹189.7K
98.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$260 ₹24.7K
2401.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Aligarh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$1,034 ₹98.5K
-35.81%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Aligarh: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $57.5 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 56% 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 $107 – 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 249%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $557 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 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 vs Aligarh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $371 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 Playa del Carmen or Aligarh?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aligarh, where all-in costs run around $371, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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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