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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Quilmes vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,568 per month in Quilmes vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,183 per month in Quilmes vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Quilmes is about 25% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quilmes and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 ARS 8,688

$11.60 MX$200

-50.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.51 ARS 53.8K

$47.11 MX$811

-24.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 ARS 13.3K

$11.88 MX$205

-26.09%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ARS 4,484

$3.98 MX$68.5

-25.63%

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

$1.69 ARS 2,555

$1.43 MX$24.57

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,576

$0.82 MX$14.20

107.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ARS 6,149

$3.19 MX$54.9

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ARS 3,367

$6.79 MX$117

-67.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.68 MX$28.85

-39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ARS 2,459

$2.20 MX$37.83

-26.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ARS 2,430

$1.71 MX$29.41

-5.85%

Eggs

$2.27 ARS 3,439

$2.74 MX$47.20

-17.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 ARS 20.5K

$9.58 MX$165

41.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 ARS 8,776

$9.01 MX$155

-35.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 ARS 15.1K

$12.81 MX$221

-22.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ARS 2,895

$2.89 MX$49.74

-33.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ARS 2,413

$1.50 MX$25.78

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ARS 1,616

$2.15 MX$36.98

-50.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ARS 3,727

$2.26 MX$38.91

8.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,509

$1.98 MX$34.10

-49.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 964

$1.99 MX$34.26

-67.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ARS 1,028

$1.23 MX$21.25

-44.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ARS 1,041

$1.20 MX$20.60

-42.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.94 ARS 7,474

$4.55 MX$78.3

8.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.18 ARS 6,327

$10.37 MX$179

-59.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,837

$1.62 MX$27.88

-25.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ARS 2,934

$2.88 MX$49.60

-32.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ARS 1,610

$0.60 MX$10.34

76.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,407

$5.39 MX$92.8

-70.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ARS 1,536

$3.73 MX$64.2

-72.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,722

$1.54 MX$26.45

-25.97%

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

$49.2K ARS 74.5M

$22.5K MX$388.3K

118.26%

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

$38.3K ARS 58.1M

$26.1K MX$448.7K

47.17%

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

$61.1 ARS 92.6K

$91.4 MX$1,573

-33.09%

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

$14.74 ARS 22.3K

$25.20 MX$434

-41.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.26 ARS 33.7K

$31.24 MX$538

-28.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 ARS 51.5K

$67.2 MX$1,157

-49.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 ARS 14.9K

$4.86 MX$83.7

101.85%

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

$258 ARS 390.2K

$224 MX$3,851

15.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.3 ARS 144.2K

$47.10 MX$811

102.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.38 ARS 52.0K

$44.29 MX$763

-22.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 98.7K

$80.1 MX$1,379

-18.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ARS 105.6K

$92.7 MX$1,596

-24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ARS 725.9K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-54.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ARS 491.5K

$390 MX$6,719

-16.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 ARS 1.4M

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-57.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ARS 1.1M

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-42.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 ARS 3.5M

$4,001 MX$68.9K

-42.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,813 ARS 2.7M

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-72.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 ARS 1.6M

$758 MX$13.1K

42.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

11.45

773.36%

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

Last update for Quilmes: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Quilmes versus $1,063 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 43% higher in Quilmes, 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 $36.00 in Quilmes versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $276 – making Quilmes 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 33%, 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 $1,431 per month in Quilmes and $1,899 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 Quilmes, 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 $954 in Quilmes and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Quilmes and $224 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 Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Quilmes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quilmes – 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 Quilmes. 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.