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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $541 in Varamin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $865 in Varamin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,189 in Varamin, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 133% more than Varamin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Varamin are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Varamin 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$4.12 $4.12

184.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$17.76 $17.76

135.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$4.85 $4.85

116.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$1.30 $1.30

176.15%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.42 $0.42

259.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$1.08 $1.08

-14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$0.62 $0.62

125.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.54 $0.54

248.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.87 $1.87

-16.58%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.16 $1.16

125.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$3.51 $3.51

137.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$3.25 $3.25

156.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$10.78 $10.78

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$0.87 $0.87

211.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.41 $1.41

7.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.82 $0.82

128.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$0.64 $0.64

242.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.51 $0.51

264.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.54 $0.54

312.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.59 $0.59

81.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.25 $0.25

336.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 $0.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$2.55 $2.55

64.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.19 $0.19

184.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$9.91 $9.91

163.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.49 $0.49

528.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.29 $0.29

727.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$2.97 $2.97

5.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.77 $0.77

70.13%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$80.7K $80.7K

-63.07%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$55.6K $55.6K

-58.05%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$16.06 $16.06

406.10%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$2.24 $2.24

907.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$5.75 $5.75

422.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$15.75 $15.75

235.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$12.34 $12.34

49.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$1.53 $1.53

221.57%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$128 $128

56.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$1,962 $1,962

163.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$31.63 $31.63

13.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$34.81 $34.81

15.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$123 $123

-35.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$71.1 $71.1

21.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$281 $281

247.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$197 $197

139.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$637 $637

159.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$323 $323

272.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$981 $981

303.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$511 $511

1194.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

25.07

-54.45%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Varamin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $281 in Varamin. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.00 in Varamin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $110 – making Varamin 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 Varamin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 133%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $811 in Varamin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Varamin, 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $541 in Varamin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 164% less in Varamin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Varamin, where all-in costs run around $541, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Varamin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Varamin – 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 Varamin. 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.