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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $457 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $725 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $993 in Anaco, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 183% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Anaco 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$12.19 VES 6,795

-3.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$0.82 VES 459

329.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.12

$1.19 VES 665

26.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.58 VES 321

67.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$0.91 VES 507

224.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.74 VES 968

-20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.13 VES 628

45.13%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.59 VES 1,998

132.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$8.04 VES 4,481

33.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.50 VES 838

38.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.57 VES 872

13.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.01 VES 565

6.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.23 VES 688

39.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$1.58 VES 879

63.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.31 VES 174

64.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$2.93 VES 1,631

11.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.51 VES 285

156.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$37.93 VES 21.1K

-22.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$44.57 VES 24.8K

15.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$12.12 VES 6,755

51.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$5.90 VES 3,290

-14.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

$44.45 VES 24.8K

351.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$44.83 VES 25.0K

-17.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$37.96 VES 21.2K

4.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$44.71 VES 24.9K

75.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$39.65 VES 22.1K

119.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$110 VES 61.1K

786.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$68.8 VES 38.3K

580.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$253 VES 141.1K

548.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$178 VES 99.3K

585.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$236 VES 131.4K

1574.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$172 VES 96.0K

3669.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Anaco: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $110 in Anaco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Anaco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 183%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $686 in Anaco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Anaco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 175% 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.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $44.45 in Anaco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Anaco, where all-in costs run around $457, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Anaco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Anaco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Anaco. 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.