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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $110 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $272 in Ayacucho.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1083% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$1.64 PEN 5.57
615.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$13.75 PEN 46.77
202.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$4.07 PEN 13.84
161.43%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.25 PEN 7.66
56.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.80 PEN 2.71
88.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.29 PEN 1.00
234.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.89 PEN 6.42
56.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$2.25 PEN 7.66
97.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
-
-
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
-
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Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
-
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Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$5.80 PEN 19.73
77.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
-
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
-
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Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
-
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$24.55 PEN 83.5
110.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
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Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
-
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Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
-
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Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
-
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
-
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$1,944 PEN 6,615
102.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$1,747 PEN 5,942
272.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ayacucho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$492 PEN 1,675
34.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
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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 Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 35% 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 $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho 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 Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ayacucho?
Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 1083% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Ayacucho?
Playa del Carmen pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Ayacucho?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 1083% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Ayacucho?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2047% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ayacucho?
At $110 in Ayacucho versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayacucho but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ayacucho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ayacucho?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $110 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Ayacucho?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ayacucho 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 Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1083% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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