🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,571 in Augustow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,298 in Augustow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,025 in Augustow.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 20% less than in Augustow, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Augustow is 18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$10.83zł 41.10
10.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$56.9zł 216
-26.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$9.54zł 36.19
12.68%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$4.20zł 15.92
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.07zł 7.87
-29.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.85zł 7.01
-52.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$4.43zł 16.80
-33.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$4.52zł 17.13
-0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.15zł 4.38
24.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.42zł 5.39
29.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.80zł 6.82
-12.78%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.51zł 13.32
-28.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$10.18zł 38.64
-18.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$7.14zł 27.10
18.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$14.07zł 53.4
-24.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.26zł 4.77
107.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.85zł 7.01
-22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.93zł 7.33
1.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$3.64zł 13.80
-42.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.09zł 4.12
69.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.19zł 4.53
82.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.51zł 5.72
-31.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.69zł 2.61
55.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$5.36zł 20.33
-23.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$7.87zł 29.87
29.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.37zł 5.19
22.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.92zł 7.29
31.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.06zł 4.04
-51.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$32.96zł 125
-21.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.78zł 10.55
16.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.03zł 3.90
133.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$13.75zł 52.2
-76.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.71zł 6.49
-22.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$33.1Kzł 125.7K
-10.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$32.8Kzł 124.6K
-27.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$364zł 1,380
-77.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$9.93zł 37.69
131.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$17.11zł 64.9
75.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$35.76zł 136
45.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$19.81zł 75.2
-6.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$9.24zł 35.08
-46.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$578zł 2,193
-65.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$15.8Kzł 60.1K
-66.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$97.9zł 371
-63.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$47.77zł 181
-15.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$92.2zł 350
-14.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$108zł 410
-17.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$648zł 2,460
46.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$491zł 1,864
-3.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$964zł 3,658
70.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$814zł 3,087
48.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$3,050zł 11.6K
32.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,235zł 8,481
189.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,485zł 5,635
-55.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.05
61.99%
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 Augustow: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $648 in Augustow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 127% 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 $57.0 in Augustow. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $245, with Augustow cheaper for home cooking.
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 Augustow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Augustow?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Augustow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Augustow?
On paper, salaries run 127% lower in Augustow. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Augustow?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $648 in Augustow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Augustow?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $578 in Augustow. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Augustow?
Shoppers in Augustow pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Augustow?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,571 in Augustow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Augustow. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Augustow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Augustow?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Augustow are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Augustow. 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