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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,139 per month in Rarotonga vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,617 per month in Rarotonga vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,096 per month in Rarotonga vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Rarotonga is about 13% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rarotonga and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Rarotonga 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 NZ$25.39

$11.96 MX$203

23.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.7 NZ$90.7

$47.38 MX$804

11.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 NZ$9.91

$11.75 MX$199

-50.98%

Cappuccino

$3.44 NZ$5.91

$4.12 MX$70.0

-16.50%

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

$2.30 NZ$3.95

$1.40 MX$23.74

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 NZ$3.93

$0.91 MX$15.48

150.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.28 NZ$9.07

$3.21 MX$54.4

64.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.31 NZ$9.13

$7.07 MX$120

-24.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.85 NZ$4.90

$1.68 MX$28.44

69.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 NZ$5.20

$2.15 MX$36.48

40.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

Eggs

$6.25 NZ$10.74

$2.82 MX$47.76

121.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 NZ$13.31

$9.20 MX$156

-15.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.92 NZ$20.49

$4.60 MX$78.1

159.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.73 NZ$20.17

$10.52 MX$178

11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 NZ$5.95

$1.69 MX$28.70

104.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 NZ$9.29

$2.77 MX$47.06

94.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 NZ$5.02

$0.60 MX$10.22

386.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.77 NZ$35.72

$5.24 MX$88.8

296.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.89 NZ$61.7

$5.78 MX$98.1

520.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 NZ$3.09

$1.54 MX$26.09

16.88%

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

$11.7K NZ$20.2K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-48.53%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

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

$103 NZ$176

$90.7 MX$1,538

13.16%

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

$49.34 NZ$84.8

$25.19 MX$427

95.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 NZ$186

$31.75 MX$539

241.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,417 NZ$2,437

$4,194 MX$71.1K

-66.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 NZ$815

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-56.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 NZ$796

$409 MX$6,933

13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 NZ$1,221

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-63.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 NZ$1,129

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-48.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,121 NZ$7,085

$773 MX$13.1K

432.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Rarotonga: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Rarotonga versus $1,086 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 433% higher in Rarotonga, 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 $53.0 in Rarotonga versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $159 in Rarotonga vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Rarotonga 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,709 per month in Rarotonga and $1,958 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 Rarotonga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% 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 $53.0 in Rarotonga and $47.00 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 Rarotonga, where all-in costs run around $1,139, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Rarotonga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rarotonga – 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 Rarotonga. 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.