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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Whangarei is 48.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Whangarei is 104.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.41 NZ$35.3
$11.99 MX$227
78.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.8 NZ$141
$42.47 MX$803
102.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.28 NZ$16.96
$10.47 MX$198
-1.81%
Cappuccino
$3.92 NZ$6.46
$3.6 MX$68.2
8.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 NZ$3.39
$1.44 MX$27.16
42.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 NZ$2.79
$0.89 MX$16.79
89.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 NZ$10.41
$3.09 MX$58.5
104.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 NZ$13.3
$4.58 MX$86.6
75.98%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.9 NZ$3.14
$1.38 MX$26.04
37.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 NZ$3.67
$1.85 MX$34.9
20.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 NZ$3.24
$1.57 MX$29.68
24.84%
Eggs
$6.52 NZ$10.75
$2.55 MX$48.3
155.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 NZ$16.28
$8.61 MX$163
14.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.98 NZ$18.1
$8.54 MX$161
28.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 NZ$27.14
$10.98 MX$208
49.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 NZ$5.02
$2.72 MX$51.4
12.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 NZ$3.94
$1.51 MX$28.57
58.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 NZ$4.92
$1.88 MX$35.63
58.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.72 NZ$7.79
$2.19 MX$41.42
115.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 NZ$4.13
$1.87 MX$35.3
34.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 NZ$3.24
$2.19 MX$41.37
-10.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 NZ$4.22
$1.07 MX$20.23
139.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 NZ$1.84
$1.09 MX$20.64
1.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.38 NZ$40.2
$3.96 MX$74.9
515.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.49 NZ$17.29
$8.86 MX$167
18.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 NZ$3.92
$1.72 MX$32.53
38.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 NZ$4.75
$2.61 MX$49.37
10.34%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 NZ$2.93
$0.52 MX$9.74
242.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 NZ$228
$26.59 MX$503
420.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 NZ$6.59
$3.24 MX$61.2
23.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 NZ$2.6
$2.38 MX$44.94
-33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.32 NZ$23.63
$3.11 MX$58.7
360.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 NZ$2.73
$1.31 MX$24.85
26.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.3K NZ$73.1K
$30.3K MX$573K
46.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K NZ$37K
$24K MX$453.6K
-6.53%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 NZ$225
$84.2 MX$1,592
61.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.43 NZ$65
$22.14 MX$419
78.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 NZ$85.9
$30.14 MX$570
72.73%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.1 NZ$61.2
$52 MX$983
-28.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.06 NZ$5.04
$18.72 MX$354
-83.65%
Cinema Ticket
$10.73 NZ$17.7
$5.07 MX$95.9
111.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$779 NZ$1,285
$200 MX$3,787
288.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K NZ$20K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
127.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 NZ$110
$35.74 MX$676
86.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.3 NZ$54.9
$39.8 MX$753
-16.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.9 NZ$135
$79 MX$1,493
3.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2 NZ$164
$88.4 MX$1,671
12.20%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$530 NZ$873
$965 MX$18.3K
-45.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 NZ$757
$474 MX$8,968
-3.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 NZ$1,679
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-38.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 NZ$1,277
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-35.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,367 NZ$5,553
$3,081 MX$58.3K
9.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,375 NZ$5,567
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-55.17%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Whangarei
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,466 NZ$4,067
$792 MX$15K
211.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
11.42
-41.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Whangarei: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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