🙂A single person spends $347 per month in Siliguri vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $568 per month in Siliguri vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $790 per month in Siliguri vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Siliguri is about 73% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Siliguri and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Siliguri74% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86₹271
$11.94MX$209
-76.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.03₹1,332
$42.75MX$748
-67.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.50₹617
$10.59MX$185
-38.62%
Cappuccino
$1.51₹144
$3.62MX$63.4
-58.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.56
$1.47MX$25.69
-74.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₹19.24
$0.94MX$16.51
-78.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.47₹139
$3.09MX$54.1
-52.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₹225
$4.46MX$78.0
-46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.57₹53.8
$1.43MX$24.94
-60.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29₹27.52
$1.88MX$32.97
-84.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.54₹51.2
$1.63MX$28.50
-66.87%
Eggs
$0.84₹79.9
$2.64MX$46.26
-68.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.27₹501
$8.21MX$144
-35.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.18₹207
$8.29MX$145
-73.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.10MX$194
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.04₹194
$2.65MX$46.40
-23.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82₹77.5
$1.50MX$26.26
-45.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07₹102
$1.99MX$34.79
-46.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.56
$2.08MX$36.33
-77.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.25₹23.83
$1.79MX$31.29
-86.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.55
$2.18MX$38.09
-80.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37₹35.34
$1.08MX$18.84
-65.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.37
$1.04MX$18.15
-66.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₹324
$3.97MX$69.5
-14.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.34₹412
$10.20MX$179
-57.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44₹137
$1.73MX$30.22
-16.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61₹343
$2.50MX$43.71
44.40%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.34₹697
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₹20.80
$0.52MX$9.07
-57.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.84₹839
$26.97MX$472
-67.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43₹136
$3.14MX$55.0
-54.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.40MX$42.04
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.36₹129
$3.09MX$54.0
-55.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹117
$1.27MX$22.28
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2K₹1.2M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-60.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K₹2.2M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-1.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.32₹3,543
$82.0MX$1,435
-54.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.15₹299
$22.45MX$393
-85.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.88₹748
$29.66MX$519
-73.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$6.77₹642
$51.9MX$908
-86.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.03₹477
$18.67MX$327
-73.06%
Cinema Ticket
$2.34₹222
$4.97MX$87.0
-52.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.56₹3,850
$198MX$3,462
-79.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,004₹190.3K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-61.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.85₹2,644
$36.34MX$636
-23.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.44₹1,086
$40.05MX$701
-71.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.29₹4,015
$79.9MX$1,398
-47.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.72₹3,486
$88.9MX$1,555
-58.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$166₹15.7K
$963MX$16.9K
-82.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$53.0₹5,028
$465MX$8,133
-88.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383₹36.4K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-75.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144₹13.7K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-88.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$771₹73.2K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-80.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$427₹40.5K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-93.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siliguri
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$374₹35.5K
$720MX$12.6K
-48.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.7
11.42
-15.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Siliguri: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $166 in Siliguri versus $963 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 93% 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 $14.00 in Siliguri versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $93.0 vs $251 – making Siliguri 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
Siliguri vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Siliguri?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 271%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $520 per month in Siliguri and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Siliguri, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Siliguri vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $347 in Siliguri and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 205% less in Siliguri. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Siliguri or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Siliguri, where all-in costs run around $347, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Siliguri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Siliguri or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siliguri – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Siliguri. 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.