๐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,174 in Visaginas, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,875 in Visaginas, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,576 in Visaginas, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen costs about 7% more than Visaginas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both Playa del Carmen and Visaginas are more affordable than the global median โ Playa del Carmen6% lower, Visaginas12% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$11.76โฌ10.03
-0.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$64.6โฌ55.1
-35.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$9.19โฌ7.84
13.17%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$3.49โฌ2.98
3.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.34โฌ2.00
-37.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.70โฌ1.45
-46.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.32โฌ4.54
-43.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$4.36โฌ3.72
2.52%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.46โฌ1.24
-5.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.85โฌ1.58
-0.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.34โฌ2.00
-31.20%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$2.76โฌ2.35
-6.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.71โฌ9.13
-20.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$7.72โฌ6.58
9.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$11.90โฌ10.15
-7.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$1.15โฌ0.98
137.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.37โฌ1.17
9.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.12โฌ1.81
-7.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.44โฌ2.93
-38.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.01โฌ0.86
84.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.16โฌ0.99
87.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.68โฌ1.43
-36.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.04โฌ0.89
0.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$5.75โฌ4.90
-27.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$10.52โฌ8.97
-2.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.64โฌ1.40
1.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.25โฌ1.92
10.67%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.19โฌ1.02
-54.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$33.76โฌ28.80
-22.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.93โฌ2.50
5.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.06โฌ0.90
132.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$9.23โฌ7.87
-64.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.70โฌ1.45
-25.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$39.3Kโฌ33.5K
-23.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$32.1Kโฌ27.4K
-26.90%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$210โฌ179
-60.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$16.10โฌ13.73
37.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$13.73โฌ11.72
115.95%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$44.07โฌ37.59
19.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$22.84โฌ19.49
-19.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$9.14โฌ7.79
-45.84%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$660โฌ563
-69.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$7,518โฌ6,413
-29.22%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$85.1โฌ72.6
-57.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$47.40โฌ40.43
-15.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$99.5โฌ84.9
-20.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$114โฌ97.6
-24.35%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$204โฌ174
379.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$171โฌ146
175.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$398โฌ339
301.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$356โฌ303
241.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,068โฌ911
277.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$816โฌ696
706.60%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Visaginas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$1,579โฌ1,347
-54.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.5
153.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Visaginas: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $204 in Visaginas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 121% higher in Visaginas, which reinforces the cost advantage โ you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $65 in Visaginas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $258 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 Visaginas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Visaginas cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,760 in Visaginas. 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 Visaginas, 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 Visaginas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,174 in Visaginas. 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 29% less in Visaginas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Visaginas?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Visaginas, where all-in costs run around $1,174, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Visaginas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Visaginas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Visaginas 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 Visaginas?
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 Visaginas. 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