Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Machala

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 67.3% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 98% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 36.3% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 115.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$2.56 $2.56
368.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$24.42 $24.42
73.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$6.55 $6.55
59.85%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$2.63 $2.63
36.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$0.73 $0.73
97.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$0.51 $0.51
74.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$2.02 $2.02
52.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$4.63 $4.63
-1.08%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.06 $1.06
30.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$1.04 $1.04
77.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$0.97 $0.97
61.86%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$1.44 $1.44
77.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$3.23 $3.23
166.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$4.02 $4.02
112.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$4.62 $4.62
137.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$2.1 $2.1
29.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.05 $1.05
43.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$0.72 $0.72
161.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$1.04 $1.04
110.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$0.39 $0.39
379.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$0.52 $0.52
321.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$0.4 $0.4
167.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.03 $1.03
5.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$4.45 $4.45
-11.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$7.45 $7.45
18.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.62 $1.62
6.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.23 $2.23
17.04%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$0.34 $0.34
52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$21.64 $21.64
22.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$1.53 $1.53
111.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$0.98 $0.98
142.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$7.93 $7.93
-60.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.61 $0.61
114.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$18K $18K
68.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$22.3K $22.3K
7.74%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$37.64 $37.64
123.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$13.9 $13.9
59.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$26.22 $26.22
14.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$42.15 $42.15
23.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$30.56 $30.56
-38.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$5.12 $5.12
-0.98%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$134 $134
49.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$5,859 $5,859
-8.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$51.6 $51.6
-30.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$42.82 $42.82
-7.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$78.9 $78.9
0.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$69.5 $69.5
27.15%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$188 $188
414.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$131 $131
261.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$344 $344
381.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$264 $264
355.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Machala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$455 $455
74.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5
128.40%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Machala: October 28, 2025

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