😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,213 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,938 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,664 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Pergamino, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Pergamino are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Pergamino11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$14.71ARS 22.0K
-11.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$29.76ARS 44.6K
55.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$13.12ARS 19.6K
-4.04%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$4.02ARS 6,017
-0.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$1.96ARS 2,930
-27.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.48ARS 2,222
-45.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$3.87ARS 5,789
-21.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$2.05ARS 3,071
232.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.41ARS 2,113
21.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$2.52ARS 3,777
-11.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.50ARS 2,251
14.67%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.42ARS 3,624
11.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$10.45ARS 15.6K
-10.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$2.92ARS 4,369
203.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$11.88ARS 17.8K
7.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$2.78ARS 4,168
12.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$2.07ARS 3,103
-25.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.49ARS 2,230
44.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.97ARS 2,953
19.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.11ARS 1,662
81.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.12ARS 1,683
77.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$1.66ARS 2,485
-25.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$1.60ARS 2,393
-25.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$4.28ARS 6,409
8.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$5.40ARS 8,079
93.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.96ARS 2,930
-19.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$2.99ARS 4,474
-2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.99ARS 1,484
-43.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.60ARS 2,388
232.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$0.79ARS 1,181
370.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$7.95ARS 11.9K
-27.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.17ARS 1,756
32.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$20.2KARS 30.3M
10.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$24.5KARS 36.7M
4.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$80.9ARS 121.1K
10.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$22.68ARS 34.0K
2.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$29.73ARS 44.5K
6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$30.75ARS 46.0K
123.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$11.67ARS 17.5K
-56.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$305ARS 456.7K
-27.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$8,534ARS 12.8M
-49.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$112ARS 167.8K
-58.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$96.4ARS 144.3K
-53.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$125ARS 186.4K
-23.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$131ARS 195.5K
-29.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$512ARS 767.0K
108.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$322ARS 481.9K
22.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$1,091ARS 1.6M
82.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$694ARS 1.0M
87.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$2,315ARS 3.5M
74.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$1,143ARS 1.7M
479.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pergamino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
54.72
-78.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Pergamino: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $30.00 in Pergamino. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $237 – 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 10%, 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 $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,819 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 and in Pergamino?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,330 in Playa del Carmen and $1,213 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 $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $305 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Pergamino?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pergamino, where all-in costs run around $1,213, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared