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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $654 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,027 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,399 in Machala.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 93% more expensive than in Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Machala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$2.47 $2.47

374.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$24.02 $24.02

74.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$6.63 $6.63

58.52%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.53 $2.53

41.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.73 $0.73

106.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.49 $0.49

87.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$1.98 $1.98

49.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$4.56 $4.56

-3.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.04 $1.04

34.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$1.08 $1.08

74.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$0.90 $0.90

73.33%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.45 $1.45

80.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$3.34 $3.34

149.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$4.06 $4.06

105.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$4.70 $4.70

131.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$2.03 $2.03

33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.10 $1.10

37.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.72 $0.72

159.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$1.09 $1.09

100.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.42 $0.42

342.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.51 $0.51

337.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.36 $0.36

197.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.02 $1.02

6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$4.25 $4.25

-1.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$7.56 $7.56

37.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$1.60 $1.60

3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$2.11 $2.11

23.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.36 $0.36

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$24.28 $24.28

7.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$1.47 $1.47

109.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$1.02 $1.02

135.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$7.83 $7.83

-60.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.64 $0.64

104.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$17.7K $17.7K

68.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

5.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 MX$1,406

$38.20 $38.20

112.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.56 MX$390

$13.74 $13.74

64.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$27.07 $27.07

11.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$42.37 $42.37

24.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$14.51 $14.51

26.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$5.04 $5.04

-2.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,474

$135 $135

48.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$5,865 $5,865

-11.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$53.1 $53.1

-32.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$43.40 $43.40

-7.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$80.5 $80.5

-0.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$67.6 $67.6

27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$187 $187

423.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$133 $133

253.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$354 $354

365.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$256 $256

370.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$1,175 $1,175

236.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$745 $745

787.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$446 $446

51.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

128.40%

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 Machala: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $187 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 52% 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 $24.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $143 per month, with Machala 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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 52% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $187 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $654 in Machala – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $654 in Machala versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala 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.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.