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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Vacoas vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Vacoas vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Vacoas vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Vacoas is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vacoas and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Vacoas 45% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.45 MUR 305

$11.73 MX$203

-45.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.98 MUR 1,560

$41.62 MX$721

-20.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 MUR 234

$10.64 MX$184

-53.57%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MUR 122

$3.52 MX$61.0

-26.99%

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

$0.96 MUR 45.29

$1.51 MX$26.17

-36.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 MUR 26.64

$0.97 MX$16.87

-42.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 MUR 103

$2.95 MX$51.1

-26.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 MUR 94.9

$4.45 MX$77.2

-55.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MUR 60.4

$1.38 MX$23.97

-7.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MUR 33.75

$1.89 MX$32.78

-62.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MUR 60.9

$1.64 MX$28.37

-21.34%

Eggs

$2.18 MUR 103

$2.51 MX$43.42

-13.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.67 MUR 126

$8.34 MX$145

-67.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 MUR 142

$8.34 MX$145

-63.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.52 MUR 261

$10.73 MX$186

-48.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 MUR 94.0

$2.60 MX$45.12

-23.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 MUR 96.3

$1.46 MX$25.25

39.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MUR 68.0

$1.90 MX$32.94

-24.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.74 MUR 130

$2.08 MX$35.98

31.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 MUR 48.50

$1.78 MX$30.77

-42.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MUR 48.01

$2.19 MX$37.87

-53.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 MUR 37.31

$1.04 MX$18.02

-24.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 MUR 33.55

$1.08 MX$18.66

-34.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 MUR 268

$4.08 MX$70.7

38.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 MUR 299

$10.32 MX$179

-38.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 MUR 68.0

$1.71 MX$29.67

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 MUR 103

$2.58 MX$44.63

-15.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 MUR 47.96

$0.51 MX$8.83

98.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 MUR 212

$3.26 MX$56.5

37.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 MUR 124

$2.49 MX$43.17

5.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MUR 204

$3.25 MX$56.3

32.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 MUR 66.9

$1.31 MX$22.65

7.63%

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

$26.7K MUR 1.3M

$30.3K MX$524.7K

-11.96%

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

$29.2K MUR 1.4M

$23.4K MX$406.0K

24.70%

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

$49.62 MUR 2,348

$82.9 MX$1,436

-40.12%

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

$10.89 MUR 515

$22.22 MX$385

-50.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 MUR 1,230

$29.34 MX$508

-11.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.80 MUR 1,268

$51.6 MX$895

-48.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MUR 260

$5.07 MX$87.8

8.28%

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

$155 MUR 7,353

$201 MX$3,480

-22.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,977 MUR 188.2K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

-23.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.28 MUR 1,386

$36.92 MX$640

-20.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.55 MUR 1,399

$39.79 MX$689

-25.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 MUR 3,108

$78.5 MX$1,360

-16.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 MUR 2,830

$87.1 MX$1,509

-31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 MUR 12.6K

$973 MX$16.9K

-72.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 MUR 11.2K

$468 MX$8,105

-49.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 MUR 23.9K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-69.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 MUR 15.2K

$1,221 MX$21.2K

-73.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 MUR 33.1K

$664 MX$11.5K

5.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

11.42

-62.78%

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

Last update for Vacoas: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Vacoas versus $973 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 5% higher in Vacoas, 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 $33.00 in Vacoas versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $156 vs $249 – making Vacoas 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 76%, 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 $1,106 per month in Vacoas and $1,945 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 Vacoas, 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 $737 in Vacoas and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Vacoas 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 Vacoas, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Vacoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vacoas – 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 Vacoas. 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.