Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Port Vila Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Port Vila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,980 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,025 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,070 in Port Vila, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Port Vila is 123% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$11.23 VUV 1,310

6.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$64.2 VUV 7,487

-34.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$9.37 VUV 1,093

14.73%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$5.06 VUV 591

-30.83%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$2.18 VUV 254

-33.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$1.69 VUV 197

-47.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$4.42 VUV 516

-33.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$4.19 VUV 489

7.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$2.22 VUV 259

-35.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$2.48 VUV 289

-25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$3.85 VUV 449

-59.22%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$5.19 VUV 605

-51.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$20.31 VUV 2,368

-59.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$18.40 VUV 2,146

-54.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$18.41 VUV 2,147

-41.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$4.82 VUV 562

-45.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$2.09 VUV 244

-31.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$6.08 VUV 709

-67.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$2.55 VUV 297

-18.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$4.24 VUV 495

-56.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$2.08 VUV 243

4.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$2.59 VUV 302

-60.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$1.05 VUV 123

1.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$8.99 VUV 1,049

-54.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$12.67 VUV 1,478

-19.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$2.99 VUV 349

-43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$3.02 VUV 352

-16.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$1.69 VUV 198

-69.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$66.6 VUV 7,773

-60.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$2.15 VUV 251

50.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.82 VUV 96.0

193.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$5.04 VUV 588

-35.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.85 VUV 216

-28.65%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

26.46%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

-37.79%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$542 VUV 63.2K

-84.87%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$24.94 VUV 2,909

-7.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$226 VUV 26.4K

-86.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$16.52 VUV 1,926

12.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$12.55 VUV 1,464

-60.32%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$620 VUV 72.3K

-68.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$6,934 VUV 808.8K

-23.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$46.05 VUV 5,371

-22.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$67.3 VUV 7,854

-40.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$1,894 VUV 220.9K

-50.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$1,412 VUV 164.7K

-66.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$3,379 VUV 394.2K

-51.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$2,063 VUV 240.6K

-41.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$6,092 VUV 710.6K

-33.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$2,199 VUV 256.5K

194.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$689 VUV 80.4K

-5.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

63.14%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,894 in Port Vila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Port Vila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $64.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $451 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Port Vila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Vila is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,470 in Port Vila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $2,980 in Port Vila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 156% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Port Vila at $2,980. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.