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 $882 per month in Quilmes vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,462 per month in Quilmes vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Quilmes vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Quilmes is about 31% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quilmes and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 ARS 13.1K

$11.87 MX$204

-23.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.02 ARS 42.9K

$42.90 MX$736

-30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ARS 13.2K

$10.65 MX$183

-13.43%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ARS 2,425

$3.45 MX$59.2

-50.72%

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

$1.27 ARS 1,807

$1.50 MX$25.81

-15.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ARS 1,594

$0.95 MX$16.28

17.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ARS 1,718

$3.03 MX$51.9

-60.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ARS 3,910

$4.61 MX$79.1

-40.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,815

$1.38 MX$23.61

-7.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,228

$1.85 MX$31.70

-15.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 ARS 2,664

$1.61 MX$27.65

16.15%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,106

$2.59 MX$44.51

-16.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 ARS 19.0K

$8.26 MX$142

60.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ARS 8,384

$8.37 MX$144

-29.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.69 ARS 15.3K

$10.66 MX$183

0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ARS 2,593

$2.63 MX$45.12

-30.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 3,022

$1.49 MX$25.53

42.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 ARS 1,389

$1.92 MX$32.94

-49.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 ARS 3,680

$2.09 MX$35.81

23.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,698

$1.86 MX$31.88

-36.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ARS 1,975

$2.26 MX$38.81

-38.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ARS 1,328

$1.06 MX$18.23

-12.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ARS 2,640

$1.09 MX$18.67

69.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,885

$4.15 MX$71.2

-17.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.20 ARS 5,999

$10.39 MX$178

-59.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ARS 1,852

$1.72 MX$29.59

-24.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,468

$2.61 MX$44.85

19.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 ARS 1,185

$0.54 MX$9.30

53.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 ARS 3,630

$3.13 MX$53.7

-18.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,334

$2.51 MX$43.09

-62.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 ARS 8,770

$3.15 MX$54.1

94.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,539

$1.27 MX$21.88

-14.96%

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

$24.0K ARS 34.3M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-20.84%

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

$26.2K ARS 37.4M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

11.05%

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

$55.3 ARS 79.1K

$83.0 MX$1,425

-33.33%

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

$18.56 ARS 26.5K

$22.71 MX$390

-18.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 ARS 21.2K

$29.46 MX$506

-49.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 ARS 37.3K

$51.0 MX$875

-48.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ARS 20.0K

$18.33 MX$315

-23.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ARS 7,176

$4.93 MX$84.5

1.83%

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

$217 ARS 310.0K

$197 MX$3,386

10.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-79.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 ARS 86.7K

$36.90 MX$633

64.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ARS 86.8K

$39.89 MX$685

52.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ARS 154.8K

$80.0 MX$1,373

35.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.5 ARS 137.8K

$89.5 MX$1,536

7.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ARS 481.2K

$956 MX$16.4K

-64.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 332.5K

$477 MX$8,189

-51.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 ARS 978.0K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-58.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ARS 754.2K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-56.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,389 ARS 3.4M

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-39.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,801 ARS 2.6M

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-72.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,103 ARS 1.6M

$667 MX$11.4K

65.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

11.42

775.66%

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

Last update for Quilmes: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Quilmes versus $956 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 65% 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 $30.00 in Quilmes versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $250 – 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 44%, 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 $1,322 per month in Quilmes and $1,906 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 $882 in Quilmes and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $217 per month in Quilmes and $197 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 $882, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.