😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $996 in Artvin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,542 in Artvin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,089 in Artvin, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than Artvin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Artvin are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Artvin28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$8.24₺401
45.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$805
$34.19₺1,662
38.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$200
$6.71₺326
75.11%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.1
$3.41₺166
20.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.78
$1.03₺50.1
35.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.50
$0.42₺20.18
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.5
$2.59₺126
23.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$4.00₺194
76.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.49
$1.01₺49.06
66.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.53
$0.99₺47.93
117.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.14
$2.43₺118
-27.16%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.83
$2.27₺110
24.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$8.36₺406
10.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$4.15₺202
122.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$215
$21.35₺1,038
-40.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.91₺92.6
54.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.83
$1.78₺86.5
-11.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.76
$1.02₺49.44
117.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.15
$1.40₺68.2
68.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.86
$0.53₺25.55
275.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.63
$0.35₺16.85
465.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.07
$0.93₺45.06
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.58
$0.68₺32.92
77.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.2
$2.23₺108
106.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$179
$8.91₺433
18.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.74
$1.83₺89.1
-7.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.13
$3.30₺161
-16.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.24
$0.63₺30.41
-4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$505
$32.01₺1,556
-7.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$89.0
$1.49₺72.5
251.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$62.0
$0.99₺48.28
268.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.3
$5.28₺257
9.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.13
$1.27₺61.6
21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$387.4K
$42.8K₺2.1M
-46.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$438.5K
$37.3K₺1.8M
-30.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,540
$61.7₺3,000
46.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$428
$11.75₺571
114.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$11.72₺570
170.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,169
$50.3₺2,444
36.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$499
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.6
$5.14₺250
-5.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,834
$489₺23.8K
-53.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.2K
$11.5K₺557.8K
-63.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$805
$48.15₺2,340
-1.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$738
$43.08₺2,094
0.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,363
$93.3₺4,537
-14.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,552
$69.4₺3,371
31.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$398₺19.4K
172.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,943
$354₺17.2K
15.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$722₺35.1K
173.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.8K
$577₺28.1K
122.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.7K
$1,355₺65.8K
198.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.9K
$901₺43.8K
644.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Artvin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
41.26
-72.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Artvin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $398 in Artvin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Artvin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $228 – making Artvin 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 Artvin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Artvin cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,493 in Artvin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Artvin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Artvin?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Artvin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $34.00 in Artvin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Artvin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Artvin, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Artvin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Artvin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Artvin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Artvin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Artvin. 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