😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $730 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,121 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,511 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 79% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Magallanes, Cavite47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$3.71₱232
222.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$16.89₱1,059
180.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$2.78₱174
322.66%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$2.15₱135
91.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.59₱36.98
137.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.34₱21.42
167.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$1.07₱67.2
200.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$1.85₱116
282.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.67₱105
0.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$1.16₱72.6
85.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$0.95₱59.9
86.32%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.89₱119
49.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$5.29₱331
73.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$4.16₱261
121.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$7.05₱442
79.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$2.32₱145
27.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.59₱99.8
-0.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$2.35₱147
-5.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$1.19₱74.8
98.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$2.05₱129
-2.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$1.97₱123
0.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.83₱51.9
49.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.56₱35.00
116.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$2.93₱184
57.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$7.84₱491
34.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$0.94₱58.9
79.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$1.93₱121
43.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.25₱15.61
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$11.32₱710
162.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$0.77₱48.12
580.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.23₱14.42
1486.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$1.90₱119
204.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.16₱72.9
32.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$21.2K₱1.3M
7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$19.3K₱1.2M
33.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$123₱7,705
-26.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$15.20₱953
65.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$24.77₱1,553
28.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$32.34₱2,027
112.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$4.82₱302
509.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$5.13₱322
-5.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$134₱8,428
67.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$7,966₱499.4K
-47.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$31.67₱1,985
49.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$19.75₱1,238
120.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$71.5₱4,482
12.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$56.1₱3,517
62.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$272₱17.1K
299.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$171₱10.7K
138.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$493₱30.9K
299.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$347₱21.7K
269.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$2,591₱162.4K
56.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,051₱65.9K
537.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.75
69.63%
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 Magallanes, Cavite: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $272 in Magallanes, Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $178 – making Magallanes, Cavite 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Magallanes, Cavite?
Playa del Carmen costs about 79% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Magallanes, Cavite?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,095 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Magallanes, Cavite?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Magallanes, Cavite?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $730 in Magallanes, Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Magallanes, Cavite?
Public transport costs about 162% less in Magallanes, Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Magallanes, Cavite?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Magallanes, Cavite?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $730 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Magallanes, Cavite?
If budget matters most, go with Magallanes, Cavite. 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