😐A single person spends $1,975 per month in Wigan vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,153 per month in Wigan vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,332 per month in Wigan vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Wigan costs about 53% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Wigan sits 48% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.18£15.03
$11.73MX$202
72.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9£60.3
$41.78MX$719
93.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.99£7.44
$10.41MX$179
-4.03%
Cappuccino
$4.01£2.99
$3.61MX$62.1
11.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34£1.74
$1.46MX$25.06
60.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33£0.99
$0.97MX$16.70
37.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85£4.35
$2.92MX$50.3
100.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27£3.92
$4.62MX$79.5
14.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55£1.15
$1.43MX$24.59
8.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66£1.23
$1.90MX$32.70
-12.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33£0.99
$1.57MX$26.95
-15.29%
Eggs
$4.12£3.07
$2.64MX$45.34
56.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.58£4.15
$8.44MX$145
-33.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.94£4.42
$8.58MX$148
-30.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83£5.83
$11.00MX$189
-28.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$2.70MX$46.51
-44.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78£1.33
$1.51MX$25.92
17.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.19£2.38
$1.91MX$32.93
67.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73£2.78
$2.17MX$37.37
71.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74£1.30
$1.87MX$32.25
-6.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00£1.49
$2.23MX$38.43
-10.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45£1.08
$1.08MX$18.60
34.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91£1.42
$1.07MX$18.47
78.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.51£13.79
$4.16MX$71.6
344.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.46£7.05
$10.29MX$177
-8.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.05
$1.68MX$28.95
63.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96£1.46
$2.53MX$43.59
-22.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39£2.53
$0.55MX$9.53
516.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.5£65.9
$26.29MX$452
236.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.46£4.81
$3.20MX$55.0
101.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40£1.04
$2.46MX$42.37
-43.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.28£12.13
$3.20MX$55.0
408.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.42
$1.32MX$22.72
43.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.6K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
27.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.6K£32.5K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
86.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$297£221
$81.4MX$1,400
264.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.54£12.32
$22.41MX$386
-26.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.05£28.34
$29.97MX$516
26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.53£34.65
$51.6MX$887
-9.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$316
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.16£9.80
$5.16MX$88.9
155.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,578£1,175
$202MX$3,471
681.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,764£5,037
$5,311MX$91.4K
27.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9£60.2
$35.61MX$613
127.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.21£32.93
$40.37MX$695
9.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2£65.0
$78.6MX$1,353
10.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8£53.4
$86.9MX$1,495
-17.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,203£896
$950MX$16.3K
26.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778£579
$478MX$8,227
62.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,997£1,488
$1,621MX$27.9K
23.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,666£1,241
$1,223MX$21.0K
36.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wigan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,751£2,049
$673MX$11.6K
308.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
11.42
-50.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wigan: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Wigan versus $950 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 309% higher in Wigan, 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 $81.0 in Wigan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Wigan vs $254 in Playa del Carmen – so Wigan 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
Wigan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Wigan?
Yes – Wigan is pricier by about 53%, 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 $2,963 per month in Wigan and $1,941 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Wigan vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,975 in Wigan and $1,294 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 236% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Wigan or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Wigan at $1,975. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wigan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wigan or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wigan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.