😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $364 in Andaman Islands.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $568 in Andaman Islands.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $773 in Andaman Islands.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 255% more expensive than in Andaman Islands, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Andaman Islands74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$2.15₹204
444.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$786
$6.22₹587
649.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$3.70₹349
214.86%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.1
$1.34₹127
205.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.20
$0.71₹67.2
92.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.07
$0.17₹15.83
388.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.6
$1.38₹130
142.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$2.84₹268
143.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.15
$0.90₹84.6
92.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.15
$0.49₹46.43
361.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.86
$0.72₹68.0
145.83%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.12
$1.22₹116
123.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$4.63₹437
98.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$2.91₹275
206.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.0
$1.97₹186
53.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.51
$0.69₹65.6
127.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.88
$0.93₹87.7
129.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.22
$0.47₹44.66
380.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.82
$0.35₹32.67
471.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.85
$0.69₹65.2
198.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.91
$0.45₹42.88
162.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.32
$0.25₹23.81
380.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.2
$5.03₹476
-7.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$180
$7.26₹686
47.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.33
$1.66₹156
-2.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.63
$2.63₹249
9.51%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.33₹503
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.68
$0.27₹25.49
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$503
$7.93₹750
276.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$91.9
$0.76₹71.4
617.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.5
$0.23₹21.85
1508.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$1.56₹147
283.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.22
$1.05₹99.5
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$376.8K
$12.7K₹1.2M
75.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.0K
$19.3K₹1.8M
34.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,504
$36.07₹3,408
147.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$3.39₹320
638.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$6.73₹636
368.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,144
$14.25₹1,346
375.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$488
$7.29₹689
296.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.2
$2.31₹219
118.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,797
$43.72₹4,131
414.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.3K
$1,429₹135.0K
195.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$801
$24.87₹2,350
90.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$759
$19.99₹1,889
125.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,384
$42.55₹4,021
92.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,555
$30.57₹2,889
201.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.0K
$128₹12.1K
735.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,842
$72.2₹6,825
461.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$271₹25.6K
614.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$192₹18.2K
577.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.4K
$979₹92.5K
308.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$111.8K
$512₹48.3K
1195.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Andaman Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.6K
$294₹27.8K
154.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
8.86
29.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Andaman Islands: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $128 in Andaman Islands. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 154% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $6.00 in Andaman Islands for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $106 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 255% 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 154% 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $128 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 276% 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 $225 in Playa del Carmen versus $43.72 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 $364 in Andaman Islands versus $1,293 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 255% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared