🙂A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,428 in Chivilcoy, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,297 in Chivilcoy, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,166 in Chivilcoy, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 9% cheaper than Chivilcoy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Chivilcoy is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$19.23ARS 29.0K
-37.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$70.1ARS 105.8K
-32.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$12.79ARS 19.3K
-8.13%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$3.78ARS 5,705
8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$2.07ARS 3,124
-32.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$1.73ARS 2,602
-47.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$3.64ARS 5,488
-11.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$4.52ARS 6,821
56.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.46ARS 2,203
15.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$2.47ARS 3,724
-12.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.53ARS 2,305
15.69%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$2.79ARS 4,212
1.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$10.40ARS 15.7K
-11.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$10.08ARS 15.2K
-8.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$13.76ARS 20.8K
-8.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.87ARS 4,323
2.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$2.05ARS 3,088
-22.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$1.43ARS 2,154
55.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$2.05ARS 3,087
15.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$1.14ARS 1,725
74.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.16ARS 1,745
70.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.73ARS 2,612
-28.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$1.66ARS 2,510
-27.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$4.33ARS 6,539
6.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$5.60ARS 8,452
87.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$2.18ARS 3,281
-22.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.72ARS 4,103
1.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.99ARS 1,493
-39.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$1.61ARS 2,432
225.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.98ARS 1,483
272.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$7.94ARS 12.0K
-27.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.36ARS 2,050
13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$28.1KARS 42.3M
-18.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$33.3KARS 50.3M
-22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$201ARS 303.3K
-54.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$23.27ARS 35.1K
8.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$30.73ARS 46.4K
3.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$30.10ARS 45.4K
128.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$11.35ARS 17.1K
-57.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$295ARS 445.4K
-23.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$9,024ARS 13.6M
-53.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$110ARS 165.6K
-56.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$91.7ARS 138.3K
-52.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$117ARS 177.1K
-31.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$136ARS 205.8K
-33.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$477ARS 720.2K
127.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$309ARS 466.7K
32.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$990ARS 1.5M
99.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$780ARS 1.2M
64.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,376ARS 3.6M
70.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chivilcoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
56.56
-79.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chivilcoy: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $477 in Chivilcoy. 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $70.0 in Chivilcoy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $282 – 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 Chivilcoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Chivilcoy compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, $1,428 in Chivilcoy – roughly 9% apart. Chivilcoy costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Chivilcoy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,142 in Chivilcoy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Chivilcoy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Chivilcoy?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,428 in Chivilcoy. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Chivilcoy?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $295 in Chivilcoy. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Chivilcoy at $1,428. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chivilcoy it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Chivilcoy?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,305 in Playa del Carmen to $1,428 in Chivilcoy. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Chivilcoy safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Chivilcoy?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chivilcoy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared