Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Aruba
For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,215 a month against $2,527 in Aruba, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Playa del Carmen Living Index60Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more -
Aruba Living Index123Cost of Living Index in ArubaLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 32.7% cheaper than Aruba without rent, and 51.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 40.3% cheaper than Aruba without rent, and 48.5% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97 MX$201
$18.46 AWG 33.04
-40.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85 MX$823
$89.9 AWG 161
-50.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 MX$219
$10.12 AWG 18.11
17.79%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$69.9
$4.98 AWG 8.91
-23.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.08
$2.09 AWG 3.74
-37.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MX$15.72
$1.81 AWG 3.24
-52.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$59.0
$5.56 AWG 9.95
-42.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 MX$92.0
$7.80 AWG 13.96
-35.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.77
$1.79 AWG 3.20
-18.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 MX$42.72
$2.84 AWG 5.08
-17.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.48
$3.24 AWG 5.81
-55.56%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$45.20
$4.95 AWG 8.86
-50.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 MX$141
$12.99 AWG 23.25
-40.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 MX$145
$7.67 AWG 13.72
2.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 MX$235
$12.37 AWG 22.14
3.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 MX$53.6
$4.79 AWG 8.57
-39.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.11
$2.83 AWG 5.06
-49.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MX$47.10
$6.41 AWG 11.47
-59.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.24
$5.11 AWG 9.14
-58.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.75
$3.47 AWG 6.21
-43.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MX$35.55
$1.99 AWG 3.56
-2.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.13
$2.85 AWG 5.11
-59.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.42
$2.40 AWG 4.30
-49.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MX$80.3
$9.84 AWG 17.62
-55.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 MX$181
$9.93 AWG 17.77
-0.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.23
$4.68 AWG 8.37
-67.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 MX$49.86
$4.42 AWG 7.91
-38.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.64
$2.47 AWG 4.42
-78.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.42 MX$503
$94.1 AWG 168
-70.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 MX$90.2
$19.04 AWG 34.08
-74.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.52 MX$64.7
$3.93 AWG 7.04
-10.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 MX$104
$22.12 AWG 39.60
-74.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$28.27
$2.48 AWG 4.44
-37.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$389.9K
$25.8K AWG 46.1K
-17.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$449.6K
$35.4K AWG 63.4K
-30.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 MX$1,535
$232 AWG 414
-63.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03 MX$441
$88.1 AWG 158
-72.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 MX$539
$102 AWG 182
-71.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 MX$1,191
$76.7 AWG 137
-15.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46 MX$541
$39.26 AWG 70.3
-24.96%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09 MX$93.4
$9.90 AWG 17.72
-48.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,813
$230 AWG 412
-9.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,045 MX$74.3K
$11.9K AWG 21.3K
-65.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55 MX$818
$67.8 AWG 121
-34.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 MX$772
$76.3 AWG 137
-44.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 MX$1,387
$126 AWG 226
-40.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,678
$125 AWG 223
-26.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 MX$18.1K
$983 AWG 1,760
0.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$7,072
$1,001 AWG 1,792
-61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 MX$31.5K
$2,660 AWG 4,762
-35.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 MX$20.4K
$2,574 AWG 4,607
-56.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,016 MX$73.7K
$2,272 AWG 4,067
76.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,247 MX$114.7K
$1,759 AWG 3,149
255.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Aruba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.9K
$2,442 AWG 4,372
-68.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.25
83.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for Aruba: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4%
Aruba $1K 39.6% 160% $616
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2%
Aruba $392 15.5% 50.7% $132
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6%
Aruba $297 11.7% 45.5% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2%
Aruba $421 16.7% 208% $284
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3%
Aruba $178 7% 56% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1%
Aruba $96 3.8% 28.5% $21
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2%
Aruba $143 5.6% 174% $91
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5%
Aruba $2.6K 43.3% 132% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8%
Aruba $890 15% 47.9% $288
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8%
Aruba $1.1K 17.7% 66.4% $419
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3%
Aruba $509 8.6% 216% $348
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3%
Aruba $395 6.7% 56% $142
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9%
Aruba $232 3.9% 29.3% $53
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5%
Aruba $290 4.9% 176% $185
Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇼 Aruba
Weather
Population
149,923
106,739
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Playa del Carmen Aruba 2,030 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
- Playa del Carmen
- Aruba
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,351
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,811
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
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