Cost of Living Comparison Between Virginia Beach, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Virginia Beach, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,577 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,108 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,638 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Virginia Beach, VA costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Virginia Beach, VA sits 92% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 $19.84

$11.94 MX$208

66.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.9 $90.9

$42.75 MX$744

112.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 $10.81

$10.59 MX$184

2.08%

Cappuccino

$5.58 $5.58

$3.62 MX$63.0

54.14%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$1.47 MX$25.54

82.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.94 MX$16.41

161.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.09 MX$53.8

89.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$4.46 MX$77.6

54.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.43 MX$24.80

-37.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.88 MX$32.79

64.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$1.63 MX$28.34

239.88%

Eggs

$3.63 $3.63

$2.64 MX$45.99

37.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$8.21 MX$143

38.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$8.29 MX$144

-18.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$11.10 MX$193

45.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.65 MX$46.14

-7.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.50 MX$26.11

-1.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.99 MX$34.59

41.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.08 MX$36.13

109.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.79 MX$31.11

29.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.18 MX$37.87

48.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.08 MX$18.73

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.04 MX$18.04

116.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.95 $8.95

$3.97 MX$69.1

125.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$10.20 MX$178

18.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.73 MX$30.04

6.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.50 MX$43.46

-15.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.52 MX$9.02

296.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.3 $70.3

$26.97 MX$469

160.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 $4.57

$3.14 MX$54.7

45.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.40 MX$41.80

-46.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.88 $19.88

$3.09 MX$53.7

543.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.27 MX$22.16

-30.71%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-1.00%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

6.58%

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

$168 $168

$82.0 MX$1,427

105.29%

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

$48.06 $48.06

$22.45 MX$391

114.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$29.66 MX$516

127.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.6 $50.6

$51.9 MX$903

-2.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.73 $34.73

$18.67 MX$325

86.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.89 $11.89

$4.97 MX$86.5

139.24%

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

$1,614 $1,614

$198 MX$3,442

715.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

207.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 $62.0

$36.34 MX$632

70.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.16 $46.16

$40.05 MX$697

15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$79.9 MX$1,390

47.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$88.9 MX$1,547

63.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 $1,683

$963 MX$16.8K

74.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$465 MX$8,086

185.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,870 $2,870

$1,596 MX$27.8K

79.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,633 $2,633

$1,209 MX$21.0K

117.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,288 $2,288

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-41.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,286 $2,286

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-64.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,263 $4,263

$720 MX$12.5K

491.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.42

-42.64%

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

Last update for Virginia Beach, VA: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Virginia Beach, VA 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 492% higher in Virginia Beach, VA, 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 $91.0 in Virginia Beach, VA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $251 – 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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Virginia Beach, VA is pricier by about 100%, 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 $3,866 per month in Virginia Beach, VA and $1,930 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $2,577 in Virginia Beach, VA and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 161% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Virginia Beach, VA at $2,577. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Virginia Beach, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Virginia Beach, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.