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 $1,090 per month in Villarrica vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,651 per month in Villarrica vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,213 per month in Villarrica vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Villarrica is about 13% 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 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 CLP 7,940

$11.99 MX$210

-28.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.13 CLP 42.0K

$41.78 MX$733

8.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 CLP 7,548

$10.75 MX$189

-24.56%

Cappuccino

$2.74 CLP 2,555

$3.50 MX$61.3

-21.71%

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

$1.35 CLP 1,257

$1.45 MX$25.41

-6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CLP 957

$0.88 MX$15.52

17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 CLP 2,991

$2.95 MX$51.7

8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 CLP 3,809

$4.51 MX$79.1

-9.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 CLP 1,104

$1.43 MX$25.12

-16.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 CLP 1,420

$1.84 MX$32.23

-17.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,797

$1.57 MX$27.51

22.93%

Eggs

$3.48 CLP 3,239

$2.51 MX$44.06

38.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 CLP 9,911

$8.28 MX$145

28.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 CLP 6,157

$8.43 MX$148

-21.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 CLP 10.4K

$10.68 MX$187

4.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 CLP 1,692

$2.61 MX$45.76

-30.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 CLP 1,469

$1.44 MX$25.22

9.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,426

$1.96 MX$34.41

-21.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 CLP 1,356

$2.09 MX$36.74

-30.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 CLP 1,190

$1.85 MX$32.47

-30.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,275

$2.17 MX$38.02

-36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 CLP 1,172

$1.03 MX$18.09

22.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CLP 1,137

$1.07 MX$18.84

14.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 CLP 5,169

$4.10 MX$72.0

35.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 CLP 5,497

$10.17 MX$178

-41.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CLP 1,460

$1.68 MX$29.38

-6.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CLP 2,128

$2.53 MX$44.31

-9.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 CLP 576

$0.51 MX$8.93

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 CLP 476

$3.23 MX$56.7

-84.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 CLP 1,986

$2.41 MX$42.19

-11.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CLP 1,328

$1.32 MX$23.17

8.33%

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

$19.2K CLP 17.9M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-35.19%

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

$21.0K CLP 19.6M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-11.18%

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

$129 CLP 120.5K

$82.0 MX$1,439

57.82%

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

$13.68 CLP 12.7K

$22.95 MX$403

-40.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.34 CLP 20.8K

$30.11 MX$528

-25.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.93 CLP 35.3K

$52.0 MX$912

-27.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 CLP 19.7K

$18.53 MX$325

14.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 CLP 5,214

$4.98 MX$87.3

12.45%

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

$433 CLP 402.8K

$197 MX$3,463

119.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 CLP 46.8K

$35.60 MX$624

41.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.34 CLP 28.3K

$40.33 MX$707

-24.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 CLP 56.9K

$78.8 MX$1,381

-22.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 CLP 75.9K

$88.9 MX$1,560

-8.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 CLP 442.3K

$947 MX$16.6K

-49.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 CLP 351.4K

$474 MX$8,314

-20.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 CLP 833.8K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-45.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 CLP 548.9K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-51.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 CLP 499.5K

$654 MX$11.5K

-17.96%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Villarrica versus $947 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 22% 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 15%, 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 $1,634 per month in Villarrica and $1,884 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 $1,090 in Villarrica and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $433 per month in Villarrica and $197 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 $1,090, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.