Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Vila and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,162 per month in Port Vila vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,309 per month in Port Vila vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,456 per month in Port Vila vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 144% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Vila sits 130% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.55 VUV 1,446

$11.71 MX$198

7.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 VUV 6,626

$46.59 MX$788

23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.58 VUV 1,681

$11.65 MX$197

25.15%

Cappuccino

$4.14 VUV 477

$4.09 MX$69.2

1.22%

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

$2.27 VUV 261

$1.37 MX$23.23

65.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 VUV 282

$0.83 MX$14.09

195.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 VUV 573

$3.35 MX$56.7

48.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 VUV 810

$6.91 MX$117

1.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 VUV 316

$1.73 MX$29.20

58.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 VUV 217

$2.26 MX$38.21

-16.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 VUV 422

$1.77 MX$29.91

106.78%

Eggs

$6.35 VUV 731

$2.73 MX$46.19

132.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.86 VUV 2,058

$9.18 MX$155

94.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 VUV 1,864

$8.92 MX$151

81.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 VUV 1,605

$12.60 MX$213

10.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 VUV 802

$3.02 MX$51.1

130.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 VUV 246

$1.57 MX$26.55

36.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 VUV 456

$2.13 MX$35.93

85.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.34 VUV 1,076

$2.26 MX$38.28

313.27%

Potato (1kg)

$8.81 VUV 1,015

$2.00 MX$33.88

340.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 VUV 403

$2.06 MX$34.90

69.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 VUV 285

$1.18 MX$19.94

110.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 VUV 140

$1.20 MX$20.35

0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 VUV 1,059

$4.63 MX$78.4

98.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 VUV 1,458

$10.69 MX$181

18.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 VUV 279

$1.62 MX$27.38

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 VUV 316

$2.88 MX$48.70

-4.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 VUV 145

$0.57 MX$9.69

121.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.3 VUV 7,872

$29.83 MX$504

129.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 VUV 294

$5.45 MX$92.1

-53.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 VUV 92.1

$3.70 MX$62.6

-78.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 VUV 598

$5.98 MX$101

-13.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 VUV 201

$1.55 MX$26.26

12.26%

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

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

$22.3K MX$377.4K

3.47%

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

$38.5K VUV 4.4M

$25.9K MX$438.7K

48.39%

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

$635 VUV 73.1K

$89.1 MX$1,507

611.98%

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

$22.76 VUV 2,623

$25.04 MX$423

-9.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$366 VUV 42.2K

$31.50 MX$532

1063.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.6 VUV 7,787

$67.8 MX$1,146

-0.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 VUV 1,912

$28.92 MX$489

-42.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.4

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

$630 VUV 72.6K

$225 MX$3,803

179.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,806 VUV 784.3K

$4,222 MX$71.4K

61.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.39 VUV 4,886

$47.44 MX$802

-10.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 VUV 7,876

$44.98 MX$760

51.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 VUV 9,544

$82.0 MX$1,386

1.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 VUV 11.9K

$92.1 MX$1,557

11.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 VUV 179.3K

$1,069 MX$18.1K

45.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 VUV 132.2K

$405 MX$6,852

183.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 VUV 394.5K

$1,935 MX$32.7K

76.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,899 VUV 218.8K

$1,301 MX$22.0K

45.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,073 VUV 699.8K

$3,995 MX$67.5K

51.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,260 VUV 260.4K

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-65.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 VUV 80.7K

$749 MX$12.7K

-6.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

11.45

-46.03%

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

Last update for Port Vila: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,556 in Port Vila versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. 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 7% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Port Vila versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $277 – 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

Port Vila vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Vila is pricier by about 144%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,742 per month in Port Vila and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,162 in Port Vila and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 129% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Port Vila at $3,162. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.