😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $765 in Angeles.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,139 in Angeles.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,513 in Angeles.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 65% more expensive than in Angeles, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Angeles44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$3.20₱201
262.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$16.46₱1,033
186.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$2.67₱168
344.94%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.77₱111
124.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.56₱35.38
155.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.31₱19.41
164.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$1.03₱64.8
209.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$1.61₱101
321.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.62₱102
3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.28₱80.4
71.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$0.92₱57.5
85.87%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.69₱106
62.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$5.22₱328
83.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.37₱211
167.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$8.06₱506
58.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$2.30₱145
25.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.38₱86.6
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$2.33₱146
-7.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.07₱67.2
111.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.67₱105
18.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.77₱111
12.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.66₱41.47
86.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.44₱27.56
172.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$2.82₱177
61.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$8.10₱508
28.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.20₱75.2
35.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$1.42₱89.1
102.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.26₱16.41
130.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.83₱51.9
549.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.25₱15.74
1392.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$1.95₱122
195.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.04₱65.2
48.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$21.4K₱1.3M
5.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$19.0K₱1.2M
37.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$176₱11.0K
-47.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$8.12₱509
210.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$23.04₱1,445
35.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$30.69₱1,925
118.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$8.08₱507
260.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$4.80₱301
1.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$84.1₱5,272
166.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$7,844₱492.0K
-46.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$28.51₱1,788
65.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$19.85₱1,245
123.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$60.1₱3,771
33.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$55.1₱3,458
68.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$337₱21.2K
215.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$196₱12.3K
98.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$524₱32.8K
310.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$425₱26.7K
199.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$2,089₱131.0K
91.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$639₱40.1K
916.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$298₱18.7K
154.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.75
69.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Angeles: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $337 in Angeles. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 155% 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 $16.00 in Angeles for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $172 per month, with Angeles 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 Angeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Angeles?
Angeles wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Angeles the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Angeles?
Average pay runs 155% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Angeles?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $337 in Angeles. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Angeles?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Angeles?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $765 in Angeles – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Angeles?
At $765 in Angeles versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Angeles but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Angeles the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Angeles?
Both work as nomad bases, but Angeles delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $765 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Angeles hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Angeles?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Angeles 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Angeles gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% 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