Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Asti Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Asti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,704 in Asti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,395 in Asti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,086 in Asti.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 24% less than in Asti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Asti is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$17.14 €14.76
-31.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$60.4 €52.0
-31.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$11.71 €10.08
-9.14%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$1.70 €1.47
107.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.92 €2.51
-48.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$1.18 €1.01
-17.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$5.86 €5.05
-49.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$4.07 €3.51
9.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.52 €1.31
-9.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.89 €1.63
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$2.75 €2.37
-40.36%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$3.48 €3.00
-27.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$18.60 €16.02
-55.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$12.18 €10.49
-31.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$22.01 €18.95
-51.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.10 €1.81
23.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.73 €1.49
-15.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.70 €2.33
-29.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$3.02 €2.60
-31.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.81 €1.56
-1.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.59 €1.37
37.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.20 €1.03
-13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.43 €0.37
151.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$7.09 €6.11
-42.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$6.12 €5.27
68.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.93 €1.66
-11.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.32 €2.00
11.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$1.79 €1.54
-71.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$43.63 €37.57
-39.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$4.03 €3.47
-19.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$2.11 €1.82
18.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$11.36 €9.78
-71.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$2.00 €1.72
-34.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$26.6K €22.9K
13.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$34.6K €29.8K
-32.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$181 €155
-54.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$10.41 €8.96
113.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$29.38 €25.30
-0.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$78.8 €67.9
-34.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$23.37 €20.12
-21.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$10.27 €8.85
-50.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$574 €494
-64.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$13.4K €11.5K
-61.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$77.9 €67.1
-52.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$40.26 €34.67
-1.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$89.7 €77.2
-12.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$139 €119
-37.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$528 €455
84.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$587 €506
-20.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$681 €586
141.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$505 €435
141.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$2,399 €2,066
64.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$1,407 €1,212
361.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Asti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$1,985 €1,709
-66.55%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Asti: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $528 in Asti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Asti pays 199% 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 $60.0 in Asti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $334 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Asti?
On paper, Asti earns 199% less. 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $528 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 Asti?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $60.0 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 vs Asti?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,704 in Asti – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Asti?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,704 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 31% less than in Asti. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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