😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $402 in Itanagar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $634 in Itanagar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $867 in Itanagar.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 214% more expensive than in Itanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Itanagar70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.38₹131
749.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$726
$10.46₹997
300.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$5.98₹570
75.75%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.1
$1.65₹158
117.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.13
$0.33₹31.84
357.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.86
$0.14₹13.24
557.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.37₹131
116.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.4
$3.30₹314
33.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.19
$0.73₹69.7
91.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.65
$0.34₹32.18
452.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.01
$0.57₹54.4
173.68%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.20
$0.98₹93.4
166.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$4.56₹435
82.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.32₹317
151.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.00
$1.93₹184
40.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.08
$0.74₹70.4
104.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.46
$0.94₹89.9
98.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.94
$0.84₹79.7
160.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.18
$0.31₹29.61
500.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.64
$0.38₹36.47
486.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.51
$0.40₹37.97
167.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.82
$0.28₹26.34
289.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.5
$3.98₹379
5.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$181
$4.62₹441
125.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.72
$1.50₹143
10.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.26
$2.88₹275
-9.38%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.38₹417
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.39
$0.30₹29.01
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$8.87₹845
194.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.80₹76.3
285.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.66
$0.26₹24.98
823.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.2
$1.46₹140
114.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.72
$1.12₹106
16.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$516.4K
$13.9K₹1.3M
115.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$404.1K
$17.9K₹1.7M
30.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,408
$39.70₹3,785
104.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$391
$3.36₹320
571.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$521
$5.55₹529
441.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$917
$23.72₹2,261
123.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$6.98₹665
163.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.2
$2.96₹282
66.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,479
$32.88₹3,135
510.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.7K
$511₹48.7K
912.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$26.07₹2,485
37.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$695
$35.19₹3,355
14.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,381
$46.89₹4,470
69.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,498
$43.49₹4,145
98.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$123₹11.7K
697.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,152
$77.7₹7,404
505.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$276₹26.3K
498.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.9K
$183₹17.4K
558.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Itanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$308₹29.3K
119.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.38
54.74%
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 Itanagar: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $123 in Itanagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 120% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $10.00 in Itanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $98.0 per month, with Itanagar 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 Itanagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Itanagar cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Itanagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 214% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Itanagar?
Average pay runs 120% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Itanagar?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $123 in Itanagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Itanagar runs roughly 195% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.88 in Itanagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Itanagar?
At $402 in Itanagar versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Itanagar but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Itanagar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Itanagar more family-friendly?
For families, Itanagar 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Itanagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 214% 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