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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,477 in Vestmanna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,195 in Vestmanna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,912 in Vestmanna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 12% cheaper than Vestmanna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Vestmanna is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$2.23 FOK 14.34
-38.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$3.86 FOK 24.78
-51.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
-
-
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.44 FOK 28.51
-43.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$18.44 FOK 118
-54.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$15.07 FOK 96.7
-44.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$27.99 FOK 180
-61.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$3.02 FOK 19.41
-13.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.36 FOK 15.15
-38.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$3.15 FOK 20.20
-39.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$3.01 FOK 19.34
-30.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$2.36 FOK 15.13
-24.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$3.05 FOK 19.58
-28.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$4.59 FOK 29.46
-76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$10.14 FOK 65.1
-59.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$3.90 FOK 25.02
-33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$11.06 FOK 71.0
-70.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.43 FOK 9.18
-8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$39.6K FOK 254.5K
-23.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$50.0K FOK 321.1K
-53.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$152 FOK 977
-45.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$62.5 FOK 401
-17.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$17.25 FOK 111
-70.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$282 FOK 1,810
-28.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$126 FOK 809
-70.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$123 FOK 791
-36.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$124 FOK 795
-29.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$628 FOK 4,033
54.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$625 FOK 4,013
-25.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,091 FOK 7,005
50.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,081 FOK 6,942
12.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vestmanna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
2.99
281.94%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vestmanna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $628 in Vestmanna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Vestmanna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vestmanna cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Vestmanna is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,216 in Vestmanna. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Vestmanna?
Groceries cost about 71% more in Vestmanna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $282 in Vestmanna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Vestmanna?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Vestmanna at $1,477. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vestmanna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Vestmanna 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Vestmanna?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vestmanna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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