Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Andaman Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Andaman Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $398 in Andaman Islands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $633 in Andaman Islands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $868 in Andaman Islands.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 215% more expensive than in Andaman Islands, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Andaman Islands 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$2.38 ₹229
403.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$727
$10.44 ₹1,005
300.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$3.63 ₹349
196.14%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.8
$1.54 ₹148
127.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$0.40 ₹38.76
262.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.40
$0.19 ₹18.39
363.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$1.76 ₹170
67.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.5
$3.05 ₹293
47.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.92
$1.07 ₹103
33.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.98
$0.50 ₹47.92
268.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.30
$0.84 ₹80.9
86.90%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.72
$0.94 ₹90.2
167.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$4.87 ₹469
70.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$2.92 ₹281
188.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.40
$2.19 ₹211
19.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.03
$0.68 ₹65.7
111.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.15
$1.00 ₹96.0
96.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.45
$0.51 ₹49.07
309.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.22
$0.39 ₹37.32
374.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.72
$0.41 ₹39.82
429.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.95
$0.49 ₹47.42
110.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.69
$0.27 ₹26.09
296.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$3.96 ₹381
3.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$7.19 ₹692
41.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.15
$1.74 ₹168
-3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.96
$2.92 ₹281
-13.36%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.99 ₹481
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.86
$0.30 ₹29.02
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$8.71 ₹838
198.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$0.84 ₹80.7
284.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.86
$0.26 ₹25.07
826.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$1.43 ₹138
125.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.99
$1.14 ₹110
15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$516.8K
$14.2K ₹1.4M
109.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$411.8K
$22.0K ₹2.1M
7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,427
$39.46 ₹3,797
107.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$399
$3.38 ₹326
578.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$7.61 ₹732
295.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$904
$15.94 ₹1,534
226.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$322
$6.94 ₹668
167.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$2.88 ₹277
72.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,436
$51.0 ₹4,908
287.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$1,510 ₹145.3K
253.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$619
$24.67 ₹2,374
44.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$25.33 ₹2,438
59.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,370
$43.49 ₹4,185
81.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,548
$31.93 ₹3,073
178.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$125 ₹12.0K
658.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,249
$75.7 ₹7,284
526.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$275 ₹26.5K
497.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$180 ₹17.3K
573.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$995 ₹95.8K
307.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.6K
$506 ₹48.7K
1178.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$289 ₹27.8K
126.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
8.67
31.72%

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 Andaman Islands: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $125 in Andaman Islands. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $10.00 in Andaman Islands for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $110 per month, with Andaman Islands cheaper across the board.

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 Andaman Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Andaman Islands cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Andaman Islands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Andaman Islands?
Average pay runs 126% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Andaman Islands?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $125 in Andaman Islands. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Andaman Islands runs roughly 199% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $51.0 in Andaman Islands. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Andaman Islands?
At $398 in Andaman Islands versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Andaman Islands but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Andaman Islands the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Andaman Islands more family-friendly?
For families, Andaman Islands is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Andaman Islands?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Andaman Islands are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Andaman Islands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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