Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ijevan

For one person, living is cheaper in Ijevan: $8.48 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Ijevan
🇦🇲 Armenia
$8.48
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Ijevan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Ijevan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $8.48 in Ijevan.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Ijevan $8.48

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.72 in Ijevan.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Ijevan $12.72

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Playa del Carmen versus $16.95 in Ijevan.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Ijevan $16.95

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 14102% more expensive than in Ijevan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Ijevan 99% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
-
-
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$8.48 ֏3,067
176.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ijevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Ijevan: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Ijevan
–
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Ijevan
–
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Ijevan
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Ijevan
–
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Ijevan
–
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Ijevan
–
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Ijevan
–
Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇲 Ijevan
🕒 Local time
15:02 3:02 PM
00:02 12:02 AM
9 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
20,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AMD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Armenian Dram exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 362 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.76 USD). 1 EUR = 407 AMD (1,000 AMD = 2.46 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Ijevan 11,580 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Ijevan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ijevan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ijevan?
Ijevan wins on cost – living expenses run 14102% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ijevan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Ijevan?
You'd need roughly $1,806 in Playa del Carmen and $12.72 in Ijevan 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Ijevan?
At $8.48 in Ijevan versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ijevan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ijevan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ijevan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ijevan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $8.48 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ijevan hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Ijevan?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ijevan 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 Ijevan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14102% 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

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