😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $832 in Angeles.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,327 in Angeles.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,822 in Angeles.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 53% more expensive than Angeles, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Angeles38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$2.67₱162
344.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$26.70₱1,621
60.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$2.85₱173
273.68%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.07₱126
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.92₱55.9
63.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.39₱23.94
143.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.25₱76.0
142.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.25₱137
104.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.65₱100
-16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.50₱91.0
23.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.95₱58.0
69.47%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.94₱118
33.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.43₱573
-12.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.21₱256
98.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$10.04₱609
6.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$3.35₱203
-21.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.43₱87.1
4.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.82₱171
-31.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.62₱98.4
29.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$2.64₱160
-29.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$2.69₱163
-15.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$2.20₱134
-51.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.47₱28.33
131.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.71₱164
53.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$8.48₱515
22.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.37₱83.4
25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.66₱101
57.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.20₱12.26
170.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.21₱73.7
158.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.22₱13.32
1040.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$1.64₱99.4
92.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.09₱66.0
16.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$40.6K₱2.5M
-25.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$25.5K₱1.5M
-7.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$147₱8,921
-43.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$36.95₱2,244
-38.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$32.46₱1,971
-9.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$29.20₱1,773
74.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$7.24₱440
153.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$5.18₱315
-4.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$103₱6,226
92.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$7,244₱439.9K
-27.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$33.46₱2,032
10.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$25.22₱1,532
58.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$74.4₱4,517
7.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$95.2₱5,783
-6.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$364₱22.1K
162.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$195₱11.8K
144.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$748₱45.4K
119.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$483₱29.3K
153.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,121₱128.8K
84.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$642₱39.0K
906.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Angeles
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$295₱17.9K
126.43%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Angeles: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $364 in Angeles. 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Angeles for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $222 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 53% 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 Angeles?
Playa del Carmen pays 126% more on average, 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 vs Angeles?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $364 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 Angeles?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $832 in Angeles – a 53% 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 Angeles?
At $832 in Angeles versus $1,271 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 $832 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 53% 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