Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Port Angeles

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,492 in Port Angeles, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Port Angeles, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Port Angeles
🇺🇸 United States
$2,492
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Port Angeles

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Port Angeles actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,492 in Port Angeles, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Port Angeles $2,492

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,944 in Port Angeles, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Port Angeles $3,944

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,397 in Port Angeles, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Port Angeles $5,397

Playa del Carmen is about 52% cheaper than Port Angeles, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Port Angeles is 84% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$22.61 $22.61
-52.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$122 $122
-63.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$13.21 $13.21
-10.75%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$5.91 $5.91
-35.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$4.87 $4.87
-73.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$2.43 $2.43
-65.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$7.96 $7.96
-60.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$11.79 $11.79
-58.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.06 $1.06
33.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$4.62 $4.62
-52.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$2.75 $2.75
-46.55%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.47
$4.88 $4.88
-48.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$15.26 $15.26
-52.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$11.04 $11.04
-27.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$15.33 $15.33
-16.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$5.42 $5.42
-46.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.72 $1.72
-19.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.36
$5.51 $5.51
-54.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.78
$3.57 $3.57
-43.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.69
$2.39 $2.39
-15.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$3.28 $3.28
-42.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$1.98 $1.98
-42.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.06
$2.01 $2.01
-38.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$12.15 $12.15
-64.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$18.85 $18.85
-47.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$2.09 $2.09
-23.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$3.54 $3.54
-22.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$1.94 $1.94
-73.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$64.1 $64.1
-57.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$2.64 $2.64
80.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$1.73 $1.73
87.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$30.56 $30.56
-82.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.03 $1.03
48.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$28.4K $28.4K
-25.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$26.4K $26.4K
-12.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$153 $153
-45.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$54.8 $54.8
-57.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$66.1 $66.1
-58.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$39.78 $39.78
41.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$17.70 $17.70
-71.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$1,959 $1,959
-89.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.4K
$32.5K $32.5K
-83.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$21.89 $21.89
98.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$38.77 $38.77
9.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$100 $100
-27.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$64.4 $64.4
37.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$1,776 $1,776
-43.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$1,161 $1,161
-67.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$2,846 $2,846
-41.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$2,201 $2,201
-50.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$2,882 $2,882
35.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$2,313 $2,313
165.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Port Angeles
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.44
77.80%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Port Angeles: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Port Angeles
$1.2K 204% $779
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Port Angeles
$413 60.3% $155
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Port Angeles
$384 91.7% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Port Angeles
$274 104% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Port Angeles
$101 8.9% $9.9
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Port Angeles
$75 13.2% $8.8
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Port Angeles
$83 64.8% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,776 in Port Angeles. 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 $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $122 in Port Angeles. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $413 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Port Angeles
🕒 Local time
21:50 9:50 PM
18:50 6:50 PM
3 h behind Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
19,960
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.95 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Port Angeles 4,450 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Port Angeles

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Port Angeles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Port Angeles?
Yes – Port Angeles is pricier by about 107%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,737 in Port Angeles. 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $995 there versus $1,776 in Port Angeles.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Port Angeles?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $2,492 in Port Angeles. That makes Playa del Carmen about 52% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Port Angeles?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Port Angeles at $2,492. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Angeles it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Port Angeles more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 52% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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