😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,136 in Vac, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,780 in Vac, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,424 in Vac, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 13% more than Vac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Vac are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Vac15% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.82Ft 2,753
35.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$45.76Ft 14.3K
-6.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$8.75Ft 2,729
21.03%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.09Ft 651
73.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.38Ft 431
6.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.08Ft 338
-12.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.90Ft 594
62.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.18Ft 680
104.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.10Ft 342
30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.49Ft 465
26.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.82Ft 567
-10.44%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.69Ft 838
-1.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$9.53Ft 2,974
-13.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.84Ft 1,823
41.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$11.59Ft 3,618
-4.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.81Ft 564
46.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.93Ft 602
-22.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.02Ft 632
-1.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$3.02Ft 942
-31.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.14Ft 354
57.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.26Ft 393
73.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.56Ft 487
-30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.52Ft 163
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.68Ft 2,086
-40.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.16Ft 1,611
97.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.08Ft 338
60.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.42Ft 444
76.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.18Ft 369
-55.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$24.77Ft 7,727
8.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.89Ft 903
8.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.11Ft 346
116.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$17.31Ft 5,401
-82.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.77Ft 551
-28.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$26.0KFt 8.1M
18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$31.4KFt 9.8M
-25.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$143Ft 44.7K
-42.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$26.24Ft 8,186
-14.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$19.77Ft 6,169
50.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$46.69Ft 14.6K
11.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$16.98Ft 5,298
9.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$7.21Ft 2,250
-31.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$289Ft 90.2K
-31.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$6,852Ft 2.1M
-23.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$72.1Ft 22.5K
-49.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$27.08Ft 8,448
47.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$75.6Ft 23.6K
5.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$85.0Ft 26.5K
4.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$426Ft 133.1K
125.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$351Ft 109.5K
32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$792Ft 247.0K
101.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$719Ft 224.4K
68.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$3,076Ft 959.9K
28.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$2,442Ft 761.8K
164.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vac
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,499Ft 467.8K
-51.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.4
54.32%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Vac: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $426 in Vac. 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 108% higher in Vac, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $46.00 in Vac. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $217 in Vac – so Vac wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Vac: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Vac cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,704 in Vac. 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 Vac, 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 Vac?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,136 in Vac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Vac. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Vac?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Vac, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Vac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Vac more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vac – 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 Vac?
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 Vac. 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 otros destinos: coste de vida comparado