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 $2,983 per month in Port Vila vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,058 per month in Port Vila vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,134 per month in Port Vila vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Vila costs about 130% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Port Vila sits 123% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.14 VUV 1,282

$11.73 MX$203

-5.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 VUV 7,426

$41.62 MX$720

55.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 VUV 1,131

$10.64 MX$184

-7.61%

Cappuccino

$5.25 VUV 604

$3.52 MX$60.9

49.15%

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

$2.15 VUV 247

$1.51 MX$26.12

42.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 VUV 200

$0.97 MX$16.84

79.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 VUV 508

$2.95 MX$51.0

49.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 VUV 486

$4.45 MX$77.0

-4.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 VUV 257

$1.38 MX$23.93

61.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 VUV 288

$1.89 MX$32.72

32.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.93 VUV 452

$1.64 MX$28.32

139.63%

Eggs

$5.18 VUV 596

$2.51 MX$43.34

106.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.04 VUV 2,306

$8.34 MX$144

140.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.57 VUV 2,137

$8.34 MX$144

122.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.19 VUV 2,094

$10.73 MX$186

69.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 VUV 536

$2.60 MX$45.04

79.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 VUV 236

$1.46 MX$25.20

40.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.03 VUV 694

$1.90 MX$32.87

217.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 VUV 284

$2.08 MX$35.91

18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 VUV 506

$1.78 MX$30.71

147.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 VUV 251

$2.19 MX$37.80

-0.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 VUV 296

$1.04 MX$17.99

147.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 VUV 122

$1.08 MX$18.62

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 VUV 1,089

$4.08 MX$70.6

131.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 VUV 1,432

$10.32 MX$178

20.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 VUV 340

$1.71 MX$29.61

72.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 VUV 338

$2.58 MX$44.54

13.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 VUV 198

$0.51 MX$8.81

237.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.0 VUV 7,826

$26.46 MX$458

156.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 VUV 246

$3.26 MX$56.4

-34.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 VUV 94.9

$2.49 MX$43.09

-67.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.10 VUV 587

$3.25 MX$56.2

56.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 VUV 217

$1.31 MX$22.61

44.27%

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

$23.1K VUV 2.7M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-23.71%

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

$38.6K VUV 4.4M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

64.56%

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

$531 VUV 61.1K

$82.9 MX$1,433

540.65%

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

$25.37 VUV 2,921

$22.22 MX$384

14.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$227 VUV 26.2K

$29.34 MX$507

674.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 VUV 1,948

$18.32 MX$317

-7.64%

Cinema Ticket

$12.71 VUV 1,463

$5.07 MX$87.6

150.69%

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

$624 VUV 71.8K

$201 MX$3,473

210.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,796 VUV 782.2K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

30.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.92 VUV 5,286

$36.92 MX$639

24.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 VUV 7,851

$39.79 MX$688

71.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 VUV 216.6K

$973 MX$16.8K

93.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,392 VUV 160.2K

$468 MX$8,090

197.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,353 VUV 385.9K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

104.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,083 VUV 239.8K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

70.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,040 VUV 695.3K

$3,946 MX$68.3K

53.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,291 VUV 263.7K

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-64.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 VUV 80.2K

$664 MX$11.5K

4.88%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,882 in Port Vila versus $973 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 $65.0 in Port Vila versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 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 130%, 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 $4,474 per month in Port Vila and $1,945 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 $2,983 in Port Vila and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 157% 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 $1,297, than in Port Vila at $2,983. 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.