😐A single person spends $2,528 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,632 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,735 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Aberdeen, SD costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Aberdeen, SD sits 89% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94$9.94
$11.67MX$202
-14.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5$64.5
$41.88MX$726
53.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96$9.96
$10.40MX$180
-4.23%
Cappuccino
$3.95$3.95
$3.61MX$62.6
9.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$1.47MX$25.45
89.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$0.91MX$15.80
62.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90$3.90
$3.03MX$52.6
28.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$4.47MX$77.4
59.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$1.38MX$23.83
-31.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67$2.67
$1.84MX$31.93
45.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.28$5.28
$1.61MX$27.82
227.95%
Eggs
$5.86$5.86
$2.57MX$44.52
128.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.95$9.95
$8.49MX$147
17.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.89$9.89
$8.49MX$147
16.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.05$18.05
$10.99MX$190
64.24%
Apples(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$2.73MX$47.25
51.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$1.50MX$25.92
64.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49$3.49
$1.96MX$33.93
78.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89$3.89
$2.12MX$36.70
83.49%
Potato(1kg)
$5.21$5.21
$1.86MX$32.30
180.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$2.17MX$37.67
23.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.96$2.96
$1.07MX$18.59
176.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$4.91$4.91
$1.05MX$18.18
367.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.64$9.64
$4.19MX$72.6
130.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$30.26$30.26
$10.28MX$178
194.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$1.67MX$28.87
10.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43$3.43
$2.49MX$43.12
37.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96$1.96
$0.54MX$9.37
262.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$3.10MX$53.8
15.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66$1.66
$2.46MX$42.66
-32.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.03$29.03
$3.24MX$56.1
795.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.26MX$21.83
-38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K$29.9K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
9.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$84.0MX$1,456
126.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$22.21MX$385
134.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.20$25.20
$29.65MX$514
-15.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.44$42.44
$52.6MX$912
-19.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.59$13.59
$4.95MX$85.7
174.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,292$1,292
$198MX$3,438
551.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$5,322MX$92.2K
345.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64$44.64
$35.95MX$623
24.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.55$24.55
$40.06MX$694
-38.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6$73.6
$78.8MX$1,365
-6.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$86.5MX$1,499
30.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,587$1,587
$977MX$16.9K
62.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,356$1,356
$471MX$8,158
188.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,673$2,673
$1,595MX$27.6K
67.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,180$2,180
$1,215MX$21.1K
79.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,342$1,342
$4,032MX$69.9K
-66.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,342$1,342
$6,579MX$114.0K
-79.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, SD
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,149$5,149
$714MX$12.4K
621.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.7
11.42
-41.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdeen, SD: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,587 in Aberdeen, SD 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 621% higher in Aberdeen, SD, 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 $64 in Aberdeen, SD versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 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
Aberdeen, SD vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
Aberdeen, SD costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aberdeen, SD vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,792 per month in Aberdeen, SD and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Aberdeen, SD vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Aberdeen, SD and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 80% more in Aberdeen, SD, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Aberdeen, SD at $2,528. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen, SD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $2,528 in Aberdeen, SD. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Aberdeen, SD compared to 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.
Should I move to Aberdeen, SD or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Aberdeen, SD vs other spots: cost of living compared