๐A single person spends $1,886 per month in Varazze vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,915 per month in Varazze vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,944 per month in Varazze vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Varazze costs about 49% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Varazze sits 40% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.28โฌ19.81
$11.61MX$201
100.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.9โฌ79.1
$42.75MX$742
117.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.19โฌ11.23
$10.60MX$184
24.43%
Cappuccino
$2.09โฌ1.78
$3.59MX$62.3
-41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29โฌ2.80
$1.45MX$25.21
126.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48โฌ1.26
$0.90MX$15.58
64.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.02โฌ5.97
$3.03MX$52.6
131.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90โฌ5.02
$4.56MX$79.2
29.39%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81โฌ1.54
$1.45MX$25.20
24.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79โฌ2.37
$1.83MX$31.72
52.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17โฌ2.70
$1.61MX$27.92
96.89%
Eggs
$4.27โฌ3.63
$2.54MX$44.05
68.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53โฌ16.62
$8.54MX$148
128.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.31โฌ11.33
$8.47MX$147
57.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.91โฌ20.35
$10.86MX$189
120.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83โฌ2.41
$2.73MX$47.37
3.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37โฌ2.02
$1.49MX$25.91
59.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.36โฌ2.86
$1.94MX$33.73
73.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00โฌ3.40
$2.16MX$37.57
85.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.54โฌ2.16
$1.85MX$32.05
37.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18โฌ1.86
$2.19MX$38.00
-0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67โฌ1.42
$1.07MX$18.62
56.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68โฌ0.58
$1.08MX$18.81
-37.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.05โฌ6.00
$4.06MX$70.5
73.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.62โฌ8.18
$10.46MX$182
-8.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45โฌ2.09
$1.65MX$28.71
48.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11โฌ2.64
$2.55MX$44.23
21.96%
๐ Getting Around
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$0.56MX$9.65
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.51โฌ37.03
$26.20MX$455
66.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.78โฌ6.62
$3.14MX$54.5
147.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03โฌ1.72
$2.37MX$41.17
-14.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.70โฌ32.93
$3.24MX$56.2
1094.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.31MX$22.81
61.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4Kโฌ28.4K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
9.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9Kโฌ30.6K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
50.74%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$219โฌ186
$83.1MX$1,443
163.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.77โฌ10.02
$22.15MX$385
-46.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.57โฌ26.02
$29.37MX$510
4.09%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6โฌ47.27
$51.2MX$889
8.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.32โฌ19.84
$18.69MX$324
24.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51โฌ9.79
$4.89MX$84.9
135.38%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$885โฌ753
$199MX$3,449
345.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3Kโฌ13.9K
$5,207MX$90.4K
213.68%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116โฌ98.5
$35.93MX$624
222.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8โฌ45.79
$39.39MX$684
36.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115โฌ97.7
$80.3MX$1,394
42.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172โฌ146
$87.6MX$1,520
96.12%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744โฌ633
$963MX$16.7K
-22.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585โฌ498
$482MX$8,370
21.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,236โฌ1,052
$1,645MX$28.6K
-24.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$922โฌ785
$1,192MX$20.7K
-22.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,891โฌ2,460
$3,957MX$68.7K
-26.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,269โฌ1,931
$6,513MX$113.1K
-65.16%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Varazze
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$726MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
11.42
-71.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Varazze: April 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $744 in Varazze 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $93 in Varazze versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $253 โ making Playa del Carmen 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
Varazze vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Varazze?
Yes โ Varazze is pricier by about 49%, 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 $2,829 per month in Varazze and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 Varazze vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,886 in Varazze and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 66% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Varazze or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Varazze at $1,886. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varazze it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Varazze or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varazze makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.