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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $612 per month in Villavicencio vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,021 per month in Villavicencio vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,430 per month in Villavicencio vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Villavicencio is about 51% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Villavicencio and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Villavicencio 54% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 COP 9,298
$11.99 MX$210
-76.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.52 COP 70.1K
$41.78 MX$733
-48.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$10.75 MX$189
-42.70%
Cappuccino
$1.27 COP 4,136
$3.50 MX$61.3
-63.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 COP 2,680
$1.45 MX$25.41
-43.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 COP 1,992
$0.88 MX$15.52
-30.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 COP 3,631
$2.95 MX$51.7
-62.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,395
$4.51 MX$79.1
-63.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 COP 3,247
$1.43 MX$25.12
-30.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 COP 3,904
$1.84 MX$32.23
-34.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 COP 2,935
$1.57 MX$27.51
-42.68%
Eggs
$1.96 COP 6,374
$2.51 MX$44.06
-21.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.81 COP 15.7K
$8.28 MX$145
-41.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.15 COP 16.8K
$8.43 MX$148
-38.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.21 COP 23.5K
$10.68 MX$187
-32.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 COP 8,108
$2.61 MX$45.76
-4.60%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 COP 2,554
$1.44 MX$25.22
-45.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,434
$1.96 MX$34.41
-30.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 4,045
$2.09 MX$36.74
-40.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,606
$1.85 MX$32.47
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 COP 3,696
$2.17 MX$38.02
-47.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 COP 2,341
$1.03 MX$18.09
-30.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 COP 2,174
$1.07 MX$18.84
-37.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 COP 7,930
$4.10 MX$72.0
-40.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 COP 39.4K
$10.17 MX$178
19.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 COP 2,651
$1.68 MX$29.38
-51.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,205
$2.53 MX$44.31
-36.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 COP 2,030
$0.51 MX$8.93
21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.54 COP 31.0K
$26.04 MX$457
-63.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 COP 4,649
$3.23 MX$56.7
-55.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 COP 4,518
$2.41 MX$42.19
-42.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 COP 19.8K
$3.23 MX$56.6
88.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 3,317
$1.32 MX$23.17
-22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K COP 39.5M
$29.7K MX$520.9K
-59.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K COP 55.3M
$23.7K MX$415.0K
-28.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.70 COP 103.2K
$82.0 MX$1,439
-61.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.00 COP 35.8K
$22.95 MX$403
-52.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.79 COP 74.2K
$30.11 MX$528
-24.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.61 COP 83.4K
$52.0 MX$912
-50.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.87 COP 54.9K
$18.53 MX$325
-8.96%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79 COP 12.3K
$4.98 MX$87.3
-23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 COP 781.2K
$197 MX$3,463
21.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,420 COP 27.4M
$5,336 MX$93.6K
57.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 COP 174.1K
$35.60 MX$624
50.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.14 COP 104.6K
$40.33 MX$707
-20.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 COP 231.0K
$78.8 MX$1,381
-9.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3 COP 215.9K
$88.9 MX$1,560
-25.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$145 COP 473.1K
$947 MX$16.6K
-84.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 COP 444.5K
$474 MX$8,314
-71.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 COP 1.3M
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-75.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 COP 1.2M
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-68.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villavicencio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$416 COP 1.4M
$654 MX$11.5K
-36.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.93
11.42
13.22%

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

Last update for Villavicencio: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $145 in Villavicencio 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 57% 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 $22.00 in Villavicencio versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $249 – making Villavicencio 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
Villavicencio vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Villavicencio?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 105%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $918 per month in Villavicencio and $1,884 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 Villavicencio, 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 Villavicencio and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $612 in Villavicencio and $1,256 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 173% less in Villavicencio. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Villavicencio or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Villavicencio, where all-in costs run around $612, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Villavicencio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Villavicencio or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Villavicencio – 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 Villavicencio. 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.

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