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 $2,980 per month in Port Vila vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,025 per month in Port Vila vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in Port Vila vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 137% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Port Vila sits 123% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.23 VUV 1,307

$11.99 MX$210

-6.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 VUV 7,473

$41.78 MX$733

53.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 VUV 1,091

$10.75 MX$189

-12.84%

Cappuccino

$5.06 VUV 590

$3.50 MX$61.3

44.57%

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

$2.18 VUV 253

$1.45 MX$25.41

50.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 VUV 197

$0.88 MX$15.52

92.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 VUV 515

$2.95 MX$51.7

49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 VUV 488

$4.51 MX$79.1

-7.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 VUV 258

$1.43 MX$25.12

55.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 VUV 289

$1.84 MX$32.23

34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.85 VUV 448

$1.57 MX$27.51

145.22%

Eggs

$5.19 VUV 604

$2.51 MX$44.06

106.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.31 VUV 2,364

$8.28 MX$145

145.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.40 VUV 2,142

$8.43 MX$148

118.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.41 VUV 2,143

$10.68 MX$187

72.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 VUV 561

$2.61 MX$45.76

84.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 VUV 243

$1.44 MX$25.22

45.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 VUV 708

$1.96 MX$34.41

210.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 VUV 297

$2.09 MX$36.74

22.01%

Potato (1kg)

$4.24 VUV 494

$1.85 MX$32.47

129.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 VUV 243

$2.17 MX$38.02

-4.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 VUV 301

$1.03 MX$18.09

151.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 VUV 123

$1.07 MX$18.84

-1.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 VUV 1,047

$4.10 MX$72.0

119.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 VUV 1,475

$10.17 MX$178

24.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 VUV 348

$1.68 MX$29.38

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 VUV 351

$2.53 MX$44.31

19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.69 VUV 197

$0.51 MX$8.93

231.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 VUV 7,758

$26.04 MX$457

155.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 VUV 251

$3.23 MX$56.7

-33.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 95.8

$2.41 MX$42.19

-65.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 VUV 587

$3.23 MX$56.6

56.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 VUV 215

$1.32 MX$23.17

40.15%

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

$23.5K VUV 2.7M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-20.92%

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

$38.0K VUV 4.4M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

60.73%

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

$542 VUV 63.1K

$82.0 MX$1,439

561.00%

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

$24.94 VUV 2,903

$22.95 MX$403

8.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$226 VUV 26.3K

$30.11 MX$528

651.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 VUV 1,923

$18.53 MX$325

-10.85%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 VUV 1,461

$4.98 MX$87.3

152.01%

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

$620 VUV 72.1K

$197 MX$3,463

213.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,934 VUV 807.2K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

29.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 VUV 5,361

$35.60 MX$624

29.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.3 VUV 7,839

$40.33 MX$707

66.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,894 VUV 220.5K

$947 MX$16.6K

100.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 VUV 164.3K

$474 MX$8,314

197.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,379 VUV 393.4K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

105.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 VUV 240.2K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

70.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,092 VUV 709.2K

$4,056 MX$71.1K

50.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,199 VUV 256.0K

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-66.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 VUV 80.2K

$654 MX$11.5K

5.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-38.70%

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

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,894 in Port Vila versus $947 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 5% higher in Port Vila, 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 $64.0 in Port Vila versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $249 – 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 137%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,470 per month in Port Vila and $1,884 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 $2,980 in Port Vila and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 156% 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 $1,256, than in Port Vila at $2,980. 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.