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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$727

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.2

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

$1.51 MX$26.16

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.21

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.68

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$27.03

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.25

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$47.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.11

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.49

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.98

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.75

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.30

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$454

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.74

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

$29.8K MX$517.0K

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

$23.3K MX$404.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,410

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

$22.56 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$521

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$918

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$319

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.3

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

$201 MX$3,483

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$623

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$696

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,382

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,500

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,160

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$3,983 AOA 3.6M

-83.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-54.32%

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 Benguela: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Benguela pays 489% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

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 Benguela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 489% lower in Benguela. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

For families, Benguela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Benguela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Benguela wins on affordability, Playa del Carmen on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.