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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $419 in Villarrica, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $637 in Villarrica, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $854 in Villarrica, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 209% more than Villarrica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Villarrica are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Villarrica 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$787

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.2

$2.52 CLP 2,349

62.30%

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

$1.37 MX$23.23

$1.65 CLP 1,541

-16.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.09

$1.09 CLP 1,013

-23.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

$2.74 CLP 2,560

22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

$4.80 CLP 4,482

43.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.19

$1.29 CLP 1,205

34.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.20

$2.62 CLP 2,450

-13.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.90

$2.53 CLP 2,364

-30.04%

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.18

$3.25 CLP 3,036

-16.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

$8.40 CLP 7,846

9.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

$11.32 CLP 10.6K

-21.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.1

$2.61 CLP 2,433

15.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.54

$1.92 CLP 1,790

-18.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.92

$2.78 CLP 2,594

-23.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.27

$1.48 CLP 1,382

52.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.87

$1.48 CLP 1,381

35.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.89

$1.29 CLP 1,206

59.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.94

$1.63 CLP 1,521

-27.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.35

$2.00 CLP 1,865

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.3

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$181

$5.68 CLP 5,304

88.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.69

$3.72 CLP 3,478

-22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.69

$1.89 CLP 1,760

-69.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.1

$2.20 CLP 2,056

147.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

$2.17 CLP 2,028

70.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.25

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

$22.3K MX$377.3K

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

$25.9K MX$438.5K

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

$89.1 MX$1,506

$64.1 CLP 59.8K

39.05%

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,145

$32.17 CLP 30.0K

110.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$489

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.3

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

$225 MX$3,802

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,386

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,556

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,850

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

$544 CLP 508.0K

37.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Villarrica: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 38% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 209%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $629 in Villarrica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $419 in Villarrica. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $419, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Villarrica. 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.