😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $807 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,427 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,047 in Los Teques, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 62% more than Los Teques, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Los Teques are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Los Teques42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$10.60VES 8,803
12.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$68.1VES 56.6K
-30.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$10.84VES 9,000
8.39%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$3.70VES 3,073
11.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.50VES 1,249
-6.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$1.34VES 1,114
-32.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$1.98VES 1,642
62.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$2.92VES 2,425
142.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$2.75VES 2,280
-38.91%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$2.29VES 1,901
-6.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$1.81VES 1,503
-2.21%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$4.66VES 3,866
-39.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$10.34VES 8,589
-11.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$9.04VES 7,505
2.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$11.36VES 9,436
11.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$7.33VES 6,088
-59.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.99VES 1,656
-20.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$2.19VES 1,817
1.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$2.38VES 1,975
-0.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$2.27VES 1,884
-12.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$2.22VES 1,845
-10.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$1.56VES 1,296
-20.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$2.32VES 1,930
-47.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$4.71VES 3,909
-2.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$11.91VES 9,886
-11.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.41VES 1,169
19.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.05VES 1,706
35.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$5.09VES 4,224
2.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$2.77VES 2,301
31.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$15.19VES 12.6K
-61.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$0.81VES 669
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$25.4KVES 21.1M
-10.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$37.9KVES 31.4M
-31.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$23.35VES 19.4K
288.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$11.70VES 9,718
115.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$36.58VES 30.4K
-13.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$6.41VES 5,320
-24.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$158VES 131.5K
42.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$6,063VES 5.0M
-30.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$73.9VES 61.4K
-35.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$47.66VES 39.6K
-8.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$124VES 102.9K
-35.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$142VES 117.5K
-35.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$202VES 167.7K
1903.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$268VES 222.6K
2400.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Los Teques
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$201VES 167.0K
284.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
22
-47.95%
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 Los Teques: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 285% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $68.0 in Los Teques. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $336 – 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 Los Teques: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Los Teques compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, $807 in Los Teques – roughly 62% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Los Teques?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,210 in Los Teques. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Los Teques?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $807 in Los Teques. 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 Los Teques?
Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $158 in Los Teques. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Los Teques, where all-in costs run around $807, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Los Teques it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Los Teques?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $807 in Los Teques to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Los Teques?
If budget matters most, go with Los Teques. 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 other spots: cost of living compared