😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $288 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $594 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $901 in Antsiranana, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 341% more than Antsiranana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Antsiranana are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Antsiranana79% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$1.59MGA 6,667
646.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$15.48MGA 65.0K
177.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.08MGA 4,538
219.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.23MGA 5,162
146.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
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-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.54MGA 6,447
-10.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.83MGA 3,468
93.98%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$3.20MGA 13.4K
-19.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$17.66MGA 74.1K
-53.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$7.55MGA 31.7K
10.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.10MGA 4,616
74.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.57MGA 6,587
33.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.66MGA 2,766
65.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$1.75MGA 7,340
137.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.57MGA 2,405
201.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.66MGA 11.2K
-1.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.23MGA 968
134.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$6.71MGA 28.2K
-53.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.34MGA 5,614
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$21.99MGA 92.3K
3.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$58.0MGA 243.4K
-49.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$13.06MGA 54.8K
290.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$35.18MGA 147.6K
154.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$337MGA 1.4M
388.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$219MGA 917.2K
460.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Antsiranana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
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 Antsiranana: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $15.00 in Antsiranana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $151 – making Antsiranana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Antsiranana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Antsiranana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, $288 in Antsiranana – roughly 341% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Antsiranana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $432 in Antsiranana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $15.00 in Antsiranana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Antsiranana?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $288 in Antsiranana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Antsiranana, where all-in costs run around $288, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Antsiranana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Antsiranana?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $288 in Antsiranana to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Antsiranana?
If budget matters most, go with Antsiranana. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared