🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,674 in Asti.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,324 in Asti.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,974 in Asti.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in Asti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Asti is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$17.52€15.34
-31.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$61.2€53.6
-31.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$11.54€10.11
-6.85%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.71€1.49
104.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.95€2.58
-50.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.19€1.05
-26.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$5.91€5.17
-50.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.98€3.49
13.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.55€1.36
-7.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.81€1.58
1.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$2.74€2.40
-42.70%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.49€3.06
-28.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$18.58€16.27
-55.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$12.64€11.07
-33.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$21.93€19.21
-51.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.11€1.85
23.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.73€1.52
-16.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.62€2.30
-25.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$3.15€2.76
-33.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.89€1.65
-2.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.62€1.42
33.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.25€1.09
-17.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.42€0.37
154.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$6.84€5.99
-40.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.32€5.54
60.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.92€1.68
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.37€2.08
6.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.77€1.55
-71.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$42.89€37.56
-39.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$4.09€3.58
-21.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$2.05€1.80
17.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$11.54€10.11
-72.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$2.01€1.76
-34.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$27.0K€23.6K
10.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$35.9K€31.5K
-34.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$176€154
-53.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$10.27€9.00
123.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$28.89€25.30
4.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$77.4€67.8
-32.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$22.69€19.88
-18.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$10.38€9.09
-52.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$569€498
-65.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$13.0K€11.4K
-59.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$77.2€67.6
-53.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$40.72€35.66
-0.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$88.7€77.7
-11.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$134€117
-33.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$522€457
81.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$578€506
-17.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$686€601
139.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$511€447
137.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$2,410€2,111
68.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$1,358€1,190
376.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,870€1,638
-65.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.8
137.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Asti: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $522 in Asti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Asti pays 186% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $61.0 in Asti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $336 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Asti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asti cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Asti?
On paper, salaries run 186% lower in Asti. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Asti?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $522 in Asti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Asti?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $61.0 in Asti. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Asti?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,674 in Asti – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Asti?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,674 in Asti, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Asti. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Asti more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Asti, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Asti. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared