๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,895 in Ventimiglia, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,935 in Ventimiglia, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,975 in Ventimiglia, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 33% cheaper than Ventimiglia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Ventimiglia is 41% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$23.60โฌ20.08
-50.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$94.2โฌ80.2
-54.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$12.95โฌ11.02
-18.15%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.19โฌ1.86
63.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$3.33โฌ2.84
-56.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.45โฌ1.23
-37.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.87โฌ5.85
-55.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$5.86โฌ4.99
-22.18%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.84โฌ1.56
-21.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.84โฌ2.41
-35.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.19โฌ2.71
-49.53%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$4.42โฌ3.76
-42.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$19.21โฌ16.34
-55.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$13.29โฌ11.31
-36.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$24.16โฌ20.56
-55.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$2.97โฌ2.53
-8.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.39โฌ2.03
-37.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.24โฌ2.76
-40.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.07โฌ3.46
-46.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$2.57โฌ2.19
-28.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.12โฌ1.80
3.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.63โฌ1.38
-34.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$0.72โฌ0.61
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.97โฌ5.93
-41.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$9.26โฌ7.88
12.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.37โฌ2.01
-30.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$3.14โฌ2.67
-18.79%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.71โฌ1.45
-67.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$43.90โฌ37.36
-40.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$7.76โฌ6.60
-59.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$2.03โฌ1.73
16.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$38.86โฌ33.07
-91.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$2.03โฌ1.73
-35.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$33.3Kโฌ28.3K
-8.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$35.6Kโฌ30.3K
-33.03%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$219โฌ186
-62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$11.84โฌ10.08
87.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$30.85โฌ26.26
-4.80%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$55.0โฌ46.78
-6.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$23.17โฌ19.72
-19.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$11.79โฌ10.04
-58.52%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$888โฌ756
-77.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$16.6Kโฌ14.2K
-68.69%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$115โฌ97.7
-68.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$55.1โฌ46.91
-28.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$115โฌ98.1
-30.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$170โฌ145
-48.53%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$755โฌ642
27.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$579โฌ492
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,209โฌ1,029
36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$933โฌ794
27.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$3,451โฌ2,937
14.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,267โฌ1,929
187.30%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ventimiglia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.25
251.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Ventimiglia: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $755 in Ventimiglia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $94 in Ventimiglia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $400 โ 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 Ventimiglia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ventimiglia cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Ventimiglia is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,843 in Ventimiglia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Ventimiglia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $1,895 in Ventimiglia. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 68% 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 Playa del Carmen or Ventimiglia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Ventimiglia at $1,895. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ventimiglia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ventimiglia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ 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 Ventimiglia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ventimiglia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared