😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $247 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $466 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $685 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 426% more than Artemisa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Artemisa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Artemisa82% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$9.83CUP 236
19.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$25.42CUP 610
63.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.24CUP 29.65
183.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.18CUP 52.2
-30.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.05CUP 49.31
-52.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.48CUP 35.52
99.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.08CUP 50.0
113.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$2.54CUP 60.9
-35.43%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$9.97CUP 239
-16.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$12.47CUP 299
-13.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
-
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
-
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Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
-
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
-
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$20.12CUP 483
83.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$9.91CUP 238
301.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$79.0CUP 1,895
-0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
-
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Artemisa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
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 2, 2026
Last update for Artemisa: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Artemisa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $77.0 – making Artemisa 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 Artemisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Artemisa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $247 in Artemisa – roughly 426% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Artemisa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $370 in Artemisa. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $25.00 in Artemisa. 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 Artemisa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $247 in Artemisa. 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 Artemisa, where all-in costs run around $247, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Artemisa 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 Artemisa?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $247 in Artemisa to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Artemisa?
If budget matters most, go with Artemisa. 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