🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,621 in Augustow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,358 in Augustow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,095 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 3% below, Augustow is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$11.02zł 40.17
6.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$58.1zł 212
-28.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.33zł 34.04
14.04%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$4.28zł 15.59
-17.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$2.12zł 7.71
-28.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$1.88zł 6.86
-48.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$4.42zł 16.13
-33.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$4.53zł 16.52
-1.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$1.15zł 4.19
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$1.40zł 5.11
35.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$1.86zł 6.77
-11.83%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$3.67zł 13.37
-31.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$10.21zł 37.23
-18.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.83zł 24.92
22.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$14.38zł 52.4
-25.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$1.25zł 4.55
108.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.87zł 6.83
-21.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.95zł 7.12
-2.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$3.67zł 13.38
-43.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$1.10zł 3.99
61.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$1.20zł 4.37
82.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$1.50zł 5.46
-30.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.69zł 2.51
56.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$5.36zł 19.56
-23.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$8.27zł 30.15
24.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$1.39zł 5.06
23.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$1.95zł 7.10
32.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.12zł 4.09
-54.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$32.12zł 117
-17.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.76zł 10.08
18.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$1.03zł 3.75
141.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$13.45zł 49.04
-75.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$1.72zł 6.27
-23.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$33.2Kzł 121.0K
-8.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$33.4Kzł 121.9K
-29.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$355zł 1,295
-76.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$10.06zł 36.69
120.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$17.07zł 62.2
71.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$36.81zł 134
40.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$19.63zł 71.6
-6.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$9.23zł 33.65
-45.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$585zł 2,134
-65.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$15.6Kzł 56.7K
-66.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$98.1zł 358
-62.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$46.93zł 171
-15.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$93.8zł 342
-16.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$110zł 400
-20.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$640zł 2,332
52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$502zł 1,831
-6.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$993zł 3,622
65.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$816zł 2,976
49.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$3,062zł 11.2K
28.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$2,323zł 8,470
179.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,567zł 5,713
-57.62%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Augustow: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $640 in Augustow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 136% 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 $58.0 in Augustow. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $246, 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 Augustow?
On paper, Augustow earns 136% less. 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 vs Augustow?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $640 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 Augustow?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $585 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 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 Augustow?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,621 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 $1,297 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