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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $851 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,380 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,910 in Avarua, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 48% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Avarua are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Avarua 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$61.3 NZ$104

-31.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$8.99 NZ$15.24

16.91%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$3.69 NZ$6.25

-2.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.10

$2.64 NZ$4.48

-42.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$2.46 NZ$4.17

-62.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$5.98 NZ$10.14

-50.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$4.94 NZ$8.38

-10.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.82 NZ$3.09

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$3.47 NZ$5.88

-45.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.83 NZ$3.11

-14.75%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$5.23 NZ$8.87

-50.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$12.15 NZ$20.60

-31.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$8.20 NZ$13.90

1.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$11.03 NZ$18.69

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$2.99 NZ$5.07

-9.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.82 NZ$3.09

-17.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$3.52 NZ$5.97

-46.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$9.79 NZ$16.60

-77.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$3.05 NZ$5.17

-39.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$2.39 NZ$4.05

-6.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$2.38 NZ$4.04

-55.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$2.94 NZ$4.99

-62.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$14.18 NZ$24.04

-26.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$4.55 NZ$7.72

-42.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K MX$515.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$403.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 MX$1,406

$119 NZ$201

-31.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$68.8 NZ$117

-47.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$73.4 NZ$124

17.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$158 NZ$267

520.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$156 NZ$265

200.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$174 NZ$294

851.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$226 NZ$383

433.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$5,046 NZ$8,554

-21.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$725 NZ$1,230

810.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Avarua: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $158 in Avarua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $61.0 in Avarua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $377 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Avarua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 48% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,276 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $851 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 50% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $851, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $851 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Avarua. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.