Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Arak Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Arak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $433 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $668 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $903 in Arak.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 193% more expensive than Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Arak 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$3.02 $3.02

293.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$14.08 $14.08

204.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$2.49 $2.49

327.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 $0.89

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$1.30 $1.30

165.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.39 $0.39

284.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$1.03 $1.03

-7.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$0.63 $0.63

119.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$0.53 $0.53

249.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$1.91 $1.91

-15.71%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$0.97 $0.97

167.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$1.86 $1.86

344.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$1.94 $1.94

331.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$8.49 $8.49

25.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$0.88 $0.88

198.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$1.14 $1.14

30.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$0.64 $0.64

200.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$0.41 $0.41

409.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$0.39 $0.39

376.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$0.37 $0.37

510.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$0.34 $0.34

211.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.23 $0.23

373.91%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 $0.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

$1.86 $1.86

123.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.42 $0.42

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

$9.85 $9.85

173.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$0.35 $0.35

794.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$0.11 $0.11

2181.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$1.26 $1.26

150.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$0.37 $0.37

243.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K MX$521.3K

$43.5K $43.5K

-30.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$404.5K

$39.6K $39.6K

-40.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 MX$1,425

$9.91 $9.91

737.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.71 MX$390

$1.97 $1.97

1052.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$5.64 $5.64

422.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$12.89 $12.89

295.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$16.18 $16.18

13.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$0.98 $0.98

403.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,386

$62.4 $62.4

216.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

$1,995 $1,995

164.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$12.83 $12.83

187.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$7.78 $7.78

412.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$45.77 $45.77

74.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$45.39 $45.39

97.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$306 $306

212.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$193 $193

147.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$489 $489

236.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$306 $306

299.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$1,348 $1,348

190.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

$534 $534

1109.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$370 $370

80.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

18.33

-37.70%

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 Arak: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $306 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 80% 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 $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $86.0 per month, with Arak 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 Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Playa del Carmen pays 80% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $306 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $433 in Arak – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 174% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $433 in Arak versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arak but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Arak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Arak 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.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Arak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.