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 $888 per month in Quilmes vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,482 per month in Quilmes vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,075 per month in Quilmes vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Quilmes is about 30% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quilmes and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 ARS 13.0K

$11.72 MX$203

-25.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.08 ARS 44.7K

$41.89 MX$725

-28.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 ARS 13.3K

$10.51 MX$182

-14.94%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ARS 2,549

$3.59 MX$62.0

-52.09%

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

$1.31 ARS 1,947

$1.51 MX$26.10

-13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ARS 1,692

$0.92 MX$15.83

23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ARS 1,774

$2.96 MX$51.2

-59.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ARS 4,036

$4.41 MX$76.3

-38.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,890

$1.40 MX$24.16

-9.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ARS 2,372

$1.88 MX$32.60

-14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ARS 2,666

$1.56 MX$26.97

15.38%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,340

$2.61 MX$45.14

-13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 ARS 19.8K

$8.32 MX$144

60.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ARS 9,028

$8.35 MX$145

-27.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 ARS 15.4K

$10.86 MX$188

-4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ARS 2,819

$2.71 MX$46.93

-29.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,193

$1.51 MX$26.04

42.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,487

$1.87 MX$32.41

-46.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 ARS 3,856

$2.19 MX$37.89

18.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ARS 1,676

$1.86 MX$32.14

-39.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ARS 2,033

$2.23 MX$38.59

-38.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ARS 1,284

$1.07 MX$18.48

-19.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ARS 2,725

$1.09 MX$18.79

67.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 ARS 5,199

$4.19 MX$72.4

-16.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ARS 6,335

$10.43 MX$180

-59.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ARS 1,906

$1.66 MX$28.68

-22.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,653

$2.61 MX$45.19

19.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ARS 1,170

$0.54 MX$9.37

46.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ARS 3,671

$3.08 MX$53.3

-19.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,373

$2.40 MX$41.61

-61.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ARS 9,158

$3.13 MX$54.1

97.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,585

$1.31 MX$22.69

-18.32%

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

$24.4K ARS 36.2M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-18.14%

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

$25.6K ARS 38.0M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

9.74%

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

$56.3 ARS 83.6K

$81.3 MX$1,406

-30.77%

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

$18.53 ARS 27.5K

$22.56 MX$390

-17.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.83 ARS 22.0K

$30.05 MX$520

-50.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.27 ARS 39.0K

$52.9 MX$915

-50.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.51 ARS 20.1K

$18.39 MX$318

-26.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ARS 7,576

$4.92 MX$85.1

3.66%

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

$219 ARS 324.7K

$201 MX$3,474

8.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,087 ARS 1.6M

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-78.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ARS 91.4K

$35.92 MX$622

71.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ARS 90.6K

$40.13 MX$694

52.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ARS 159.5K

$79.7 MX$1,379

34.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ARS 141.8K

$86.5 MX$1,496

10.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 498.8K

$978 MX$16.9K

-65.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 346.5K

$470 MX$8,140

-50.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 ARS 996.1K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-59.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ARS 806.8K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-54.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ARS 3.5M

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-39.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 ARS 2.6M

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-73.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ARS 1.6M

$677 MX$11.7K

63.91%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Quilmes 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 64% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $252 – 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 42%, 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 $1,332 per month in Quilmes 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 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 $888 in Quilmes 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 $219 per month in Quilmes 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 Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.