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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $949 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Ushuaia vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Ushuaia vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ushuaia is about 27% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ushuaia and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ushuaia 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 ARS 15.7K

$11.71 MX$198

-11.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.57 ARS 50.6K

$46.59 MX$788

-27.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 ARS 13.2K

$11.65 MX$197

-24.64%

Cappuccino

$2.79 ARS 4,204

$4.09 MX$69.2

-31.78%

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

$1.69 ARS 2,550

$1.37 MX$23.23

23.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,261

$0.83 MX$14.09

80.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ARS 3,275

$3.35 MX$56.7

-35.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ARS 4,580

$6.91 MX$117

-56.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,966

$1.73 MX$29.20

-24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ARS 2,461

$2.26 MX$38.21

-27.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,064

$1.77 MX$29.91

14.69%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,387

$2.73 MX$46.19

-17.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 ARS 15.5K

$9.18 MX$155

11.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ARS 9,592

$8.92 MX$151

-28.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.25 ARS 13.9K

$12.60 MX$213

-26.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,073

$3.02 MX$51.1

-32.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 3,201

$1.57 MX$26.55

35.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,893

$2.13 MX$35.93

-40.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ARS 3,941

$2.26 MX$38.28

15.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ARS 1,732

$2.00 MX$33.88

-42.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ARS 1,803

$2.06 MX$34.90

-41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ARS 1,892

$1.18 MX$19.94

5.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,238

$1.20 MX$20.35

23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 ARS 4,775

$4.63 MX$78.4

-31.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 7,491

$10.69 MX$181

-53.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ARS 3,152

$1.62 MX$27.38

29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ARS 4,740

$2.88 MX$48.70

9.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ARS 1,172

$0.57 MX$9.69

36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,310

$5.45 MX$92.1

-71.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ARS 1,275

$3.70 MX$62.6

-77.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 ARS 8,804

$5.98 MX$101

-2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,677

$1.55 MX$26.26

-28.39%

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

$27.0K ARS 40.8M

$22.3K MX$377.4K

21.09%

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

$30.1K ARS 45.4M

$25.9K MX$438.7K

15.93%

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

$67.2 ARS 101.4K

$89.1 MX$1,507

-24.56%

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

$17.39 ARS 26.2K

$25.04 MX$423

-30.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.81 ARS 34.4K

$31.50 MX$532

-27.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.14 ARS 39.4K

$67.8 MX$1,146

-61.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.70 ARS 20.7K

$28.92 MX$489

-52.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ARS 9,199

$5.05 MX$85.4

20.79%

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

$221 ARS 333.7K

$225 MX$3,803

-1.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,682 ARS 4.0M

$4,222 MX$71.4K

-36.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ARS 110.2K

$47.44 MX$802

54.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.9 ARS 107.0K

$44.98 MX$760

57.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ARS 171.6K

$82.0 MX$1,386

38.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 166.5K

$92.1 MX$1,557

19.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ARS 515.6K

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-68.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ARS 363.3K

$405 MX$6,852

-40.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ARS 1.0M

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-64.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 799.5K

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-59.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ARS 2.9M

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-52.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 ARS 2.4M

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-76.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

11.45

410.92%

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

Last update for Ushuaia: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Ushuaia versus $1,069 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Ushuaia versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $277 – making Ushuaia 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,423 per month in Ushuaia and $1,940 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 Ushuaia, 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 $949 in Ushuaia and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $221 per month in Ushuaia and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ushuaia, where all-in costs run around $949, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Ushuaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ushuaia – 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 Ushuaia. 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.