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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $477 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $744 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,012 in Arak.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 165% more expensive than in Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Arak 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$3.46 $3.46

235.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$12.80 $12.80

268.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$4.09 $4.09

190.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.83 $0.83

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 $0.61

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$1.32 $1.32

201.52%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$0.52 $0.52

175.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$1.72 $1.72

-52.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$0.59 $0.59

184.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$0.58 $0.58

279.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.87 $1.87

-8.56%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$1.26 $1.26

117.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$2.16 $2.16

343.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$2.56 $2.56

251.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$10.04 $10.04

27.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$0.82 $0.82

252.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.97 $0.97

54.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$0.68 $0.68

216.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$0.48 $0.48

370.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$0.45 $0.45

340.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$0.44 $0.44

352.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$0.48 $0.48

156.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$0.31 $0.31

287.10%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$2.43 $2.43

87.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.09 $0.09

566.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

$7.72 $7.72

273.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$0.23 $0.23

2243.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$0.11 $0.11

3290.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$1.02 $1.02

465.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$0.09 $0.09

1611.11%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$49.5K $49.5K

-54.47%

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$34.8K $34.8K

-25.15%

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$10.07 $10.07

807.45%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$1.49 $1.49

1591.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$3.67 $3.67

751.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$9.71 $9.71

592.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

$24.55 $24.55

18.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$1.12 $1.12

333.93%

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

$224 MX$3,856

$82.9 $82.9

169.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$2,404 $2,404

75.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$13.24 $13.24

255.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$8.96 $8.96

394.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$80.9 $80.9

-1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$51.3 $51.3

80.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$290 $290

266.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$202 $202

93.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$667 $667

222.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$342 $342

272.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$1,336 $1,336

199.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$531 $531

1123.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$379 $379

99.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

18.5

-38.11%

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 Arak: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $290 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 100% 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 $13.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $97.0 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 165% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 100% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $290 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $477 in Arak – a 165% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 273% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $477 in Arak versus $1,266 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 165% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.