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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Willemstad vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,165 per month in Willemstad vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,267 per month in Willemstad vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Willemstad costs about 55% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Willemstad sits 51% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.67 ANG 33.33

$13.02 MX$221

43.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.6 ANG 148

$46.25 MX$784

78.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.23 ANG 20.04

$12.59 MX$213

-10.80%

Cappuccino

$3.98 ANG 7.11

$4.00 MX$67.9

-0.50%

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

$3.25 ANG 5.81

$1.42 MX$24.08

128.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ANG 3.39

$0.81 MX$13.73

134.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 ANG 10.24

$3.05 MX$51.7

88.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.23 ANG 9.34

$6.82 MX$116

-23.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ANG 3.47

$1.71 MX$29.04

13.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 ANG 5.30

$2.22 MX$37.62

33.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.49 ANG 6.23

$1.72 MX$29.13

102.91%

Eggs

$3.79 ANG 6.77

$2.71 MX$45.99

39.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.90 ANG 30.16

$9.37 MX$159

80.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.44 ANG 13.29

$8.86 MX$150

-16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ANG 21.60

$12.78 MX$217

-5.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.41 ANG 9.66

$3.13 MX$53.0

72.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 ANG 5.41

$1.55 MX$26.24

95.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 ANG 5.82

$2.15 MX$36.51

51.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.82 ANG 6.82

$2.35 MX$39.89

62.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 ANG 4.40

$2.02 MX$34.23

22.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 ANG 3.63

$1.99 MX$33.67

2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 ANG 4.32

$1.24 MX$21.09

95.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ANG 5.16

$1.19 MX$20.21

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.66 ANG 17.25

$4.65 MX$78.8

107.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.34 ANG 22.03

$10.47 MX$177

17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ANG 4.31

$1.58 MX$26.83

52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ANG 4.25

$2.92 MX$49.48

-18.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 ANG 3.44

$0.56 MX$9.53

244.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 ANG 39.97

$5.32 MX$90.2

320.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ANG 2.36

$1.55 MX$26.28

-14.84%

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

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

$20.3K ANG 36.2K

$25.6K MX$433.4K

-20.59%

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

$273 ANG 487

$89.3 MX$1,513

205.33%

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

$77.2 ANG 138

$23.30 MX$395

231.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 ANG 117

$31.72 MX$538

106.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.91 ANG 87.3

$68.8 MX$1,165

-28.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.92 ANG 78.4

$29.40 MX$498

49.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 ANG 21.74

$5.06 MX$85.7

140.71%

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

$331 ANG 590

$222 MX$3,765

48.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K ANG 22.2K

$4,293 MX$72.8K

189.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 ANG 182

$46.21 MX$783

120.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.0 ANG 130

$44.43 MX$753

64.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$160 ANG 285

$95.5 MX$1,618

67.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 ANG 164

$92.5 MX$1,568

-0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ANG 1,412

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-26.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 ANG 1,219

$393 MX$6,664

73.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 ANG 3,061

$1,988 MX$33.7K

-13.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 ANG 2,171

$1,304 MX$22.1K

-6.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$849 ANG 1,516

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-78.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$168 ANG 300

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-97.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,251 ANG 2,232

$747 MX$12.7K

67.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.97

11.6

-57.16%

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

Last update for Willemstad: August 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Willemstad versus $1,069 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 67% higher in Willemstad, 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 $83.0 in Willemstad versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $277 – 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

Willemstad vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Willemstad is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,095 per month in Willemstad and $1,995 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 $2,063 in Willemstad and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $331 per month in Willemstad and $222 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Willemstad at $2,063. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Willemstad 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.

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.

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