😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $947 in Catamarca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,587 in Catamarca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,228 in Catamarca.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 37% more expensive than Catamarca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Catamarca29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$10.62ARS 15.1K
10.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$33.55ARS 47.9K
24.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.03ARS 12.9K
17.83%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.65ARS 3,780
32.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.70ARS 2,425
-11.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$1.50ARS 2,137
-35.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.06ARS 2,939
43.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.93ARS 4,186
51.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.26ARS 1,797
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.56ARS 2,224
21.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.94ARS 2,773
-15.46%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$2.24ARS 3,198
12.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$10.21ARS 14.6K
-18.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.33ARS 9,023
31.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$9.21ARS 13.1K
16.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.05ARS 2,918
26.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$2.08ARS 2,964
-29.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.26ARS 1,790
50.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$2.65ARS 3,775
-21.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.14ARS 1,631
56.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.20ARS 1,713
82.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.32ARS 1,890
-21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$1.43ARS 2,044
-24.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$3.16ARS 4,509
29.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$5.09ARS 7,255
102.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.00ARS 2,851
-14.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.02ARS 4,313
-14.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.77ARS 1,097
-33.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.53ARS 2,183
113.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.86ARS 1,224
189.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$6.09ARS 8,692
-46.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.07ARS 1,520
22.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$27.6KARS 39.4M
9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$30.5KARS 43.5M
-23.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$66.6ARS 95.0K
24.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$17.22ARS 24.6K
29.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$22.76ARS 32.5K
28.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$26.38ARS 37.6K
95.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$13.84ARS 19.7K
32.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$6.29ARS 8,975
-19.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$224ARS 319.5K
-10.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$2,651ARS 3.8M
96.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$73.7ARS 105.1K
-49.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$69.3ARS 98.8K
-42.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$115ARS 163.5K
-31.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$114ARS 162.4K
-23.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$340ARS 484.7K
186.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$242ARS 344.6K
93.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$673ARS 959.6K
144.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$543ARS 775.2K
124.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$1,915ARS 2.7M
106.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Catamarca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
58.5
-80.48%
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 Catamarca: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $340 in Catamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Catamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $230 per month, with Catamarca 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 Catamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Catamarca?
Catamarca wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Catamarca the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Catamarca?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,420 in Catamarca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Catamarca?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $340 in Catamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Catamarca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Catamarca?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $947 in Catamarca – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Catamarca?
At $947 in Catamarca versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Catamarca but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Catamarca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Catamarca?
Both work as nomad bases, but Catamarca delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $947 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Catamarca hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Catamarca?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Catamarca 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 Catamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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