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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,100 per month in Villarrica vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,675 per month in Villarrica vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,250 per month in Villarrica vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Villarrica is about 15% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Villarrica and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Villarrica 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.51 CLP 7,553

$11.73 MX$203

-27.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.16 CLP 40.1K

$41.62 MX$720

8.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 CLP 7,284

$10.64 MX$184

-22.84%

Cappuccino

$2.72 CLP 2,416

$3.52 MX$60.9

-22.73%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,159

$1.51 MX$26.12

-13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 939

$0.97 MX$16.84

9.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 CLP 2,796

$2.95 MX$51.0

6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 CLP 3,644

$4.45 MX$77.0

-7.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 CLP 1,092

$1.38 MX$23.93

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 CLP 1,385

$1.89 MX$32.72

-17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 CLP 1,671

$1.64 MX$28.32

14.63%

Eggs

$3.55 CLP 3,150

$2.51 MX$43.34

41.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.40 CLP 9,231

$8.34 MX$144

24.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 CLP 5,758

$8.34 MX$144

-22.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 CLP 9,707

$10.73 MX$186

1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 CLP 1,604

$2.60 MX$45.04

-30.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 CLP 1,396

$1.46 MX$25.20

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,418

$1.90 MX$32.87

-15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 CLP 1,336

$2.08 MX$35.91

-27.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 CLP 1,150

$1.78 MX$30.71

-26.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 CLP 1,254

$2.19 MX$37.80

-35.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 CLP 1,115

$1.04 MX$17.99

21.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CLP 1,096

$1.08 MX$18.62

14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 CLP 4,831

$4.08 MX$70.6

33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 CLP 5,580

$10.32 MX$178

-39.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CLP 1,376

$1.71 MX$29.61

-9.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 1,981

$2.58 MX$44.54

-13.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 CLP 556

$0.51 MX$8.81

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 450

$3.26 MX$56.4

-84.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 CLP 1,839

$2.49 MX$43.09

-16.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CLP 1,221

$1.31 MX$22.61

5.34%

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

$19.7K CLP 17.5M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-34.92%

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

$21.7K CLP 19.2M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

-7.44%

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

$131 CLP 116.2K

$82.9 MX$1,433

58.04%

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

$13.53 CLP 12.0K

$22.22 MX$384

-39.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.17 CLP 19.7K

$29.34 MX$507

-24.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.83 CLP 33.6K

$51.6 MX$893

-26.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.49 CLP 19.1K

$18.32 MX$317

17.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 CLP 4,893

$5.07 MX$87.6

8.68%

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

$438 CLP 388.8K

$201 MX$3,473

118.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 CLP 45.6K

$36.92 MX$639

39.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.16 CLP 26.8K

$39.79 MX$688

-24.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.7 CLP 55.6K

$78.5 MX$1,357

-20.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 CLP 74.0K

$87.1 MX$1,506

-4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 CLP 419.4K

$973 MX$16.8K

-51.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 CLP 326.3K

$468 MX$8,090

-21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 CLP 786.2K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-46.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 CLP 534.1K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-50.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 CLP 495.6K

$664 MX$11.5K

-15.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.18

11.42

-54.64%

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

Last update for Villarrica: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Villarrica 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 19% 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 $45.00 in Villarrica versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Villarrica vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Villarrica wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,650 per month in Villarrica 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 Villarrica, 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 $1,100 in Villarrica 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 $438 per month in Villarrica 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Villarrica, where all-in costs run around $1,100, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Villarrica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Villarrica – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Villarrica. 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.