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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,152 in Pergamino, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,820 in Pergamino, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,488 in Pergamino, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 12% more than Pergamino, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and Pergamino are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Pergamino 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$14.82 ARS 20.7K
-19.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$29.97 ARS 41.8K
42.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$11.92 ARS 16.6K
-11.16%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$3.92 ARS 5,475
-7.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$2.02 ARS 2,820
-27.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$1.52 ARS 2,123
-38.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$3.49 ARS 4,875
-11.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.03 ARS 2,837
119.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.52 ARS 2,116
-5.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$2.56 ARS 3,573
-26.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.31 ARS 3,219
-29.44%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$2.36 ARS 3,295
11.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$11.91 ARS 16.6K
-31.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$2.92 ARS 4,078
183.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$9.27 ARS 12.9K
19.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$2.46 ARS 3,431
7.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.01 ARS 2,808
-25.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.31 ARS 1,831
51.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.04 ARS 2,847
1.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$1.50 ARS 2,091
19.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.49 ARS 2,078
46.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.82 ARS 2,535
-40.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$1.47 ARS 2,052
-29.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$3.29 ARS 4,586
20.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$4.95 ARS 6,912
106.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.98 ARS 2,762
-12.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$3.17 ARS 4,416
-21.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.82 ARS 1,147
-36.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$1.64 ARS 2,292
91.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.78 ARS 1,095
207.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$5.94 ARS 8,287
-47.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$1.12 ARS 1,559
13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$20.0K ARS 27.9M
54.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$25.3K ARS 35.3M
-7.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$113 ARS 157.0K
-27.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$21.31 ARS 29.7K
5.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$28.46 ARS 39.7K
4.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$26.47 ARS 36.9K
95.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$13.82 ARS 19.3K
35.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$8.83 ARS 12.3K
-43.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$325 ARS 453.5K
-39.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$5,280 ARS 7.4M
-0.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$112 ARS 156.5K
-67.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$84.5 ARS 117.9K
-52.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$124 ARS 173.5K
-35.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$133 ARS 186.2K
-33.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$332 ARS 462.6K
190.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$239 ARS 333.5K
94.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$673 ARS 938.8K
137.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$534 ARS 745.1K
126.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$2,202 ARS 3.1M
79.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
52.71
-78.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Pergamino: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $332 in Pergamino. 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Pergamino. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $236 – making Pergamino 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 Pergamino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pergamino cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,729 in Pergamino. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pergamino, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Pergamino?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,152 in Pergamino. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $325 in Pergamino. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Pergamino?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pergamino, where all-in costs run around $1,152, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Pergamino it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Pergamino more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pergamino – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Pergamino?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pergamino. 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.

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