😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $689 in Dipolog, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,091 in Dipolog, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,493 in Dipolog, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 87% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Dipolog49% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$1.23₱75.6
870.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$20.85₱1,286
105.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$3.58₱221
195.81%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.97₱122
83.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.53₱32.77
177.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.30₱18.28
213.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$0.94₱57.9
228.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$1.72₱106
159.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.79₱111
-20.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.23₱75.9
52.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$0.88₱54.3
85.23%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.24₱138
17.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$5.95₱367
37.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.28₱264
93.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.71₱414
65.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.58₱221
-25.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.19₱73.5
26.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$3.30₱204
-39.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.61₱99.6
29.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.66₱164
-32.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$3.16₱195
-31.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.69₱104
-36.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.85₱52.6
22.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.12₱192
27.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$4.05₱250
151.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.29₱79.5
34.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.39₱85.5
79.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.28₱17.39
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.68₱42.09
361.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.25₱15.43
860.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.62₱161
17.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.08₱66.4
17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$23.7K₱1.5M
30.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$19.4K₱1.2M
20.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$66.8₱4,117
22.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$30.92₱1,907
-27.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$30.36₱1,872
-2.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$33.61₱2,073
54.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$4.54₱280
311.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.41₱272
12.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$35.83₱2,210
452.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,389₱270.7K
20.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$45.15₱2,785
-19.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$22.77₱1,405
75.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$63.0₱3,884
26.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$26.74₱1,649
232.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$266₱16.4K
262.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$174₱10.7K
166.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$591₱36.4K
170.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$393₱24.3K
207.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,431₱150.0K
62.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Dipolog
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$251₱15.5K
187.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Dipolog: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $266 in Dipolog. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 187% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $21.00 in Dipolog. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $197 – making Dipolog the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Dipolog: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Dipolog?
Playa del Carmen costs about 87% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Dipolog?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,034 in Dipolog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Dipolog?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dipolog, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Dipolog?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $689 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Dipolog?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $35.83 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Dipolog?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Dipolog?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dipolog costs $689 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Dipolog?
If budget matters most, go with Dipolog. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado