🙂A single person spends $1,174 per month in Visaginas vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,875 per month in Visaginas vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,576 per month in Visaginas vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Visaginas is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Visaginas and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Visaginas12% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.76€10.03
$11.67MX$202
0.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.1
$41.88MX$726
54.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.19€7.84
$10.40MX$180
-11.63%
Cappuccino
$3.49€2.98
$3.61MX$62.6
-3.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.00
$1.47MX$25.45
59.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.45
$0.91MX$15.80
86.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.32€4.54
$3.03MX$52.6
75.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36€3.72
$4.47MX$77.4
-2.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46€1.24
$1.38MX$23.83
5.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85€1.58
$1.84MX$31.93
0.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34€2.00
$1.61MX$27.82
45.34%
Eggs
$2.76€2.35
$2.57MX$44.52
7.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.71€9.13
$8.49MX$147
26.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72€6.58
$8.49MX$147
-9.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.90€10.15
$10.99MX$190
8.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15€0.98
$2.73MX$47.25
-57.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$1.50MX$25.92
-8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.81
$1.96MX$33.93
8.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44€2.93
$2.12MX$36.70
62.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01€0.86
$1.86MX$32.30
-45.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16€0.99
$2.17MX$37.67
-46.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.43
$1.07MX$18.59
57.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.89
$1.05MX$18.18
-0.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75€4.90
$4.19MX$72.6
37.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52€8.97
$10.28MX$178
2.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.40
$1.67MX$28.87
-1.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.49MX$43.12
-9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19€1.02
$0.54MX$9.37
120.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.76€28.80
$26.27MX$455
28.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93€2.50
$3.10MX$53.8
-5.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.90
$2.46MX$42.66
-56.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.23€7.87
$3.24MX$56.1
184.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.45
$1.26MX$21.83
34.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€33.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
30.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K€27.4K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
36.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210€179
$84.0MX$1,456
150.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.10€13.73
$22.21MX$385
-27.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73€11.72
$29.65MX$514
-53.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.07€37.59
$52.6MX$912
-16.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.84€19.49
$18.34MX$318
24.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14€7.79
$4.95MX$85.7
84.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$660€563
$198MX$3,438
232.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,518€6,413
$5,322MX$92.2K
41.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1€72.6
$35.95MX$623
136.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40€40.43
$40.06MX$694
18.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€84.9
$78.8MX$1,365
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114€97.6
$86.5MX$1,499
32.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204€174
$977MX$16.9K
-79.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171€146
$471MX$8,158
-63.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$398€339
$1,595MX$27.6K
-75.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356€303
$1,215MX$21.1K
-70.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,068€911
$4,032MX$69.9K
-73.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$816€696
$6,579MX$114.0K
-87.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visaginas
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,579€1,347
$714MX$12.4K
121.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
11.42
-60.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Visaginas: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Visaginas versus $977 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 121% higher in Visaginas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in Visaginas versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $252 – 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
Visaginas vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Visaginas?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,760 per month in Visaginas and $1,891 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 Visaginas, 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 Visaginas vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,174 in Visaginas and $1,261 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 29% less in Visaginas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Visaginas or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Visaginas, where all-in costs run around $1,174, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Visaginas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Visaginas or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Visaginas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Visaginas 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 Visaginas. 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.