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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,568 per month in Vic vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,225 per month in Vic vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,882 per month in Vic vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Vic costs about 22% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Vic sits 17% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.72 €13.46
$11.94 MX$209
31.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.69 €27.12
$42.75 MX$748
-25.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 €8.85
$10.59 MX$185
-2.36%
Cappuccino
$1.86 €1.59
$3.62 MX$63.4
-48.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 €2.52
$1.47 MX$25.69
100.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$0.94 MX$16.51
64.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 €1.94
$3.09 MX$54.1
-26.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 €3.01
$4.46 MX$78.0
-21.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.20
$1.43 MX$24.94
-2.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 €1.97
$1.88 MX$32.97
22.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 €1.05
$1.63 MX$28.50
-25.15%
Eggs
$2.62 €2.24
$2.64 MX$46.26
-0.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.63 €9.10
$8.21 MX$144
29.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 €5.72
$8.29 MX$145
-19.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.23 €13.89
$11.10 MX$194
46.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 €1.61
$2.65 MX$46.40
-29.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.42
$1.50 MX$26.26
10.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25 €1.07
$1.99 MX$34.79
-37.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 €1.82
$2.08 MX$36.33
2.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 €0.63
$1.79 MX$31.29
-58.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 €1.99
$2.18 MX$38.09
6.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 €0.87
$1.08 MX$18.84
-6.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 €0.37
$1.04 MX$18.15
-58.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40 €5.48
$3.97 MX$69.5
61.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.18 €3.58
$10.20 MX$179
-59.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.73 MX$30.22
-28.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 €2.15
$2.50 MX$43.71
0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.46
$0.52 MX$9.07
228.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.29 €29.35
$26.97 MX$472
27.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 €2.09
$3.14 MX$55.0
-22.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.88
$2.40 MX$42.04
-57.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.84 €26.40
$3.09 MX$54.0
898.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 €1.58
$1.27 MX$22.28
45.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K €33.5K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
26.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K €26.0K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
30.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 €99.6
$82.0 MX$1,435
41.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.11 €18.07
$22.45 MX$393
-5.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.23 €30.15
$29.66 MX$519
18.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.26 €41.31
$51.9 MX$908
-6.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.07 €12.90
$18.67 MX$327
-19.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.49 €7.27
$4.97 MX$87.0
70.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$516 €441
$198 MX$3,462
160.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,288 €7,095
$5,273 MX$92.3K
57.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.19 €29.27
$36.34 MX$636
-5.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.26 €36.18
$40.05 MX$701
5.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 €77.7
$79.9 MX$1,398
13.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €96.7
$88.9 MX$1,555
27.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$840 €719
$963 MX$16.9K
-12.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 €595
$465 MX$8,133
49.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 €1,119
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 €847
$1,209 MX$21.2K
-18.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,422 €2,073
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-38.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,314 €1,980
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-64.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vic
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,187 €1,872
$720 MX$12.6K
203.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.75
11.42
-67.16%

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

Last update for Vic: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $840 in Vic 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 204% higher in Vic, 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 $32.00 in Vic versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $251 – making Vic 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
Vic vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Vic?
Yes – Vic is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,352 per month in Vic 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 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 Vic vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,568 in Vic 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 27% 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 Vic or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Vic at $1,568. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vic it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vic or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Vic or Playa del Carmen?
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.
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, Vic makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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