Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $448 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $754 per month in Pucallpa vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Pucallpa vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Pucallpa is about 64% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pucallpa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Pucallpa 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 PEN 7.70

$11.72 MX$204

-80.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PEN 37.10

$41.89 MX$731

-73.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 PEN 16.92

$10.51 MX$183

-52.62%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PEN 6.74

$3.59 MX$62.5

-44.85%

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

$0.93 PEN 3.17

$1.51 MX$26.31

-38.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.92 MX$15.96

-68.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 5.83

$2.96 MX$51.6

-41.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.64

$4.41 MX$76.9

-48.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.44

$1.40 MX$24.35

-27.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 PEN 12.11

$1.88 MX$32.87

89.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.69

$1.56 MX$27.19

-30.13%

Eggs

$1.72 PEN 5.84

$2.61 MX$45.50

-34.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$8.32 MX$145

-76.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 PEN 12.85

$8.35 MX$146

-54.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.38 PEN 11.49

$10.86 MX$189

-68.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 PEN 7.72

$2.71 MX$47.31

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$1.51 MX$26.25

-5.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.87 MX$32.67

-24.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 PEN 8.46

$2.19 MX$38.19

13.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$1.86 MX$32.40

-48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.46

$2.23 MX$38.90

-14.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$1.07 MX$18.63

-28.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$1.09 MX$18.94

-11.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 PEN 14.69

$4.19 MX$73.0

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 PEN 26.33

$10.43 MX$182

-25.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 PEN 7.37

$1.66 MX$28.91

30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PEN 11.60

$2.61 MX$45.56

30.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.54 MX$9.45

101.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$3.08 MX$53.7

-56.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$2.40 MX$41.94

-78.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.95

$1.31 MX$22.87

-11.45%

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

$29.8K MX$519.9K

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

$23.3K MX$406.8K

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

$49.39 PEN 168

$81.3 MX$1,418

-39.23%

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

$15.11 PEN 51.4

$22.56 MX$393

-33.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.42 PEN 141

$30.05 MX$524

37.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.8

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

$201 MX$3,502

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$90.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.77 PEN 169

$35.92 MX$627

38.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.26 PEN 113

$40.13 MX$700

-17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.57 PEN 114

$79.7 MX$1,390

-57.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 PEN 213

$86.5 MX$1,508

-27.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 PEN 372

$978 MX$17.1K

-88.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,206

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 PEN 770

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-86.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 402

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-90.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$419 PEN 1,424

$677 MX$11.8K

-38.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Pucallpa: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $109 in Pucallpa versus $978 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 62% 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $252 – making Pucallpa 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 181%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $672 per month in Pucallpa and $1,890 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 Pucallpa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Pucallpa and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pucallpa, where all-in costs run around $448, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Pucallpa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pucallpa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Pucallpa. 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.