😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $608 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,034 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,459 in Villavicencio, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 113% more than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Villavicencio are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Villavicencio55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$2.94COP 10.5K
298.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$21.86COP 78.1K
90.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$5.95COP 21.2K
78.82%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.22COP 4,373
188.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.82COP 2,940
84.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.58COP 2,054
67.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.06COP 3,795
178.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$1.68COP 5,984
164.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.01COP 3,624
36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.21COP 4,304
56.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$0.91COP 3,262
80.22%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.98COP 7,081
26.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.79COP 17.1K
74.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$5.02COP 17.9K
66.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.29COP 26.0K
47.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.46COP 8,793
5.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$0.80COP 2,853
82.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.31COP 4,695
45.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.28COP 4,576
62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.11COP 3,978
60.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.12COP 3,988
95.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.70COP 2,490
48.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.68COP 2,425
58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.41COP 8,601
69.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$10.64COP 38.0K
-3.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.88COP 3,126
94.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.57COP 5,603
64.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.62COP 2,217
-17.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$9.40COP 33.6K
181.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.44COP 5,141
126.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.37COP 4,909
81.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$6.21COP 22.2K
-47.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.98COP 3,515
33.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$12.3KCOP 43.9M
146.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$16.8KCOP 60.1M
39.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$32.67COP 116.7K
153.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$10.93COP 39.0K
103.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$23.09COP 82.5K
27.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$24.95COP 89.1K
106.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$17.21COP 61.5K
6.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$3.64COP 13.0K
39.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$242COP 862.9K
-16.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$8,460COP 30.2M
-38.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$55.2COP 197.0K
-33.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$32.12COP 114.7K
23.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$71.0COP 253.6K
10.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$67.1COP 239.7K
29.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$148COP 527.2K
558.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$139COP 495.0K
237.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$412COP 1.5M
298.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$382COP 1.4M
219.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$378COP 1.3M
75.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.93
-11.68%
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 Villavicencio: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $148 in Villavicencio. 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 76% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $22.00 in Villavicencio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $169 – making Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villavicencio cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 113%, 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 $912 in Villavicencio. 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 Villavicencio, 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 Villavicencio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $608 in Villavicencio. 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 181% less in Villavicencio. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Villavicencio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villavicencio, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Villavicencio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Villavicencio more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villavicencio – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Villavicencio. 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 other spots: cost of living compared