Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Varas and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,130 per month in Puerto Varas vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,704 per month in Puerto Varas vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,278 per month in Puerto Varas vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Puerto Varas is about 10% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Puerto Varas and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Varas 15% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 CLP 12.1K

$11.72 MX$203

11.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.03 CLP 40.0K

$41.89 MX$725

2.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 CLP 7,561

$10.51 MX$182

-22.65%

Cappuccino

$3.10 CLP 2,886

$3.59 MX$62.0

-13.65%

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

$1.09 CLP 1,015

$1.51 MX$26.10

-27.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 CLP 818

$0.92 MX$15.83

-4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 CLP 3,064

$2.96 MX$51.2

11.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 CLP 3,788

$4.41 MX$76.3

-7.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 CLP 1,138

$1.40 MX$24.16

-12.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,456

$1.88 MX$32.60

-17.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 CLP 1,723

$1.56 MX$26.97

18.59%

Eggs

$3.49 CLP 3,246

$2.61 MX$45.14

33.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 CLP 9,596

$8.32 MX$144

23.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 CLP 6,133

$8.35 MX$145

-21.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.15 CLP 10.4K

$10.86 MX$188

2.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,752

$2.71 MX$46.93

-30.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,446

$1.51 MX$26.04

2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,439

$1.87 MX$32.41

-17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 CLP 1,342

$2.19 MX$37.89

-34.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,185

$1.86 MX$32.14

-31.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 CLP 1,256

$2.23 MX$38.59

-39.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CLP 1,179

$1.07 MX$18.48

18.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 CLP 1,130

$1.09 MX$18.79

11.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 CLP 4,873

$4.19 MX$72.4

25.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 CLP 5,541

$10.43 MX$180

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,442

$1.66 MX$28.68

-6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 CLP 2,169

$2.61 MX$45.19

-10.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 573

$0.54 MX$9.37

14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 CLP 446

$3.08 MX$53.3

-84.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,330

$1.31 MX$22.69

9.16%

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

$19.5K CLP 18.1M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-34.69%

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

$21.2K CLP 19.7M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

-9.18%

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

$133 CLP 124.1K

$81.3 MX$1,406

64.06%

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

$13.43 CLP 12.5K

$22.56 MX$390

-40.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.14 CLP 20.6K

$30.05 MX$520

-26.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 CLP 36.1K

$52.9 MX$915

-26.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 CLP 20.1K

$18.39 MX$318

17.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 CLP 5,162

$4.92 MX$85.1

12.80%

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

$433 CLP 402.9K

$201 MX$3,474

115.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

$35.92 MX$622

40.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.74 CLP 28.6K

$40.13 MX$694

-23.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 CLP 56.5K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-23.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 CLP 75.3K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 CLP 439.8K

$978 MX$16.9K

-51.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 CLP 352.5K

$470 MX$8,140

-19.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 CLP 830.6K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-45.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 CLP 554.5K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-50.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$549 CLP 510.9K

$677 MX$11.7K

-18.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.42

-54.64%

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

Last update for Puerto Varas: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Puerto Varas 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 23% 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 $43.00 in Puerto Varas versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Puerto Varas vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Puerto Varas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,695 per month in Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas, 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 $1,130 in Puerto Varas and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Puerto Varas and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Varas, where all-in costs run around $1,130, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Puerto Varas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Varas – 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 Puerto Varas. 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.