🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,657 in Augustow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,493 in Augustow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,330 in Augustow.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 24% less than in Augustow, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Augustow is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$12.79zł 48.57
-9.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$63.4zł 241
-25.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$10.52zł 39.95
12.93%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$4.54zł 17.25
-12.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$2.53zł 9.59
-43.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$2.31zł 8.77
-64.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$4.66zł 17.70
-31.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$5.39zł 20.46
25.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.13zł 4.30
48.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$1.59zł 6.03
38.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.81zł 6.88
-5.52%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$3.96zł 15.04
-30.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$9.73zł 36.94
-1.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$7.36zł 27.93
22.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$15.41zł 58.5
-16.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.27zł 4.81
127.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.76zł 6.70
-14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.77zł 6.70
21.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$4.06zł 15.43
-44.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.87zł 3.31
127.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.96zł 3.63
107.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.49zł 5.64
-17.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.72zł 2.75
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$6.52zł 24.74
-30.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.50zł 24.69
59.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.17zł 4.44
38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.88zł 7.16
53.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$1.13zł 4.30
-46.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$30.66zł 116
-6.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$2.69zł 10.22
100.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$1.30zł 4.93
186.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$13.25zł 50.3
-56.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.78zł 6.74
-13.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$32.1Kzł 122.0K
-29.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$31.3Kzł 118.7K
-16.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$374zł 1,419
-75.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$9.05zł 34.35
178.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$17.25zł 65.5
81.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$44.30zł 168
51.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$21.36zł 81.1
36.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$9.89zł 37.53
-50.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$617zł 2,342
-63.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$15.8Kzł 60.2K
-73.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$115zł 435
-58.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$43.04zł 163
2.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$111zł 420
-27.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$122zł 463
-24.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$650zł 2,467
63.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$489zł 1,856
-20.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$915zł 3,473
134.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$906zł 3,441
40.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$3,002zł 11.4K
33.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$2,299zł 8,727
182.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Augustow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$1,529zł 5,805
-50.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.65
72.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Augustow: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $650 in Augustow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Augustow pays 102% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $63.0 in Augustow. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $249, 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 31% 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 102% 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: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $650 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 $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $617 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 11% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,657 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 $1,266 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 31% 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