Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen, WA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen, WA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,026 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,034 in Aberdeen, WA versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,042 in Aberdeen, WA versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Aberdeen, WA is roughly 60% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aberdeen, WA is 50% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.04 $21.04
$11.61 MX$201
81.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$42.75 MX$742
137.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.20 $12.20
$10.60 MX$184
15.09%
Cappuccino
$4.74 $4.74
$3.59 MX$62.3
32.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.45 MX$25.21
22.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.90 MX$15.58
162.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$3.03 MX$52.6
101.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 $4.86
$4.56 MX$79.2
6.58%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.45 MX$25.20
-22.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.83 MX$31.72
44.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.61 MX$27.92
72.05%
Eggs
$5.10 $5.10
$2.54 MX$44.05
100.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 $9.91
$8.54 MX$148
16.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.59 $6.59
$8.47 MX$147
-22.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 $8.97
$10.86 MX$189
-17.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$2.73 MX$47.37
82.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.49 MX$25.91
27.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$1.94 MX$33.73
188.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.11 $6.11
$2.16 MX$37.57
182.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.85 MX$32.05
49.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.19 MX$38.00
56.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.07 MX$18.62
183.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.08 MX$18.81
65.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.48 $11.48
$4.06 MX$70.5
182.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.98 $10.98
$10.46 MX$182
4.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.65 MX$28.71
6.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.55 MX$44.23
2.75%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.56 MX$9.65
82.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.14 MX$54.5
72.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 $0.73
$2.37 MX$41.17
-69.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.71 $28.71
$3.24 MX$56.2
786.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.31 MX$22.81
-10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$30.5K MX$530.2K
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.8K MX$413.6K
7.00%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$83.1 MX$1,443
88.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$22.15 MX$385
139.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$29.37 MX$510
134.73%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.62 $31.62
$51.2 MX$889
-38.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 $4.88
$4.89 MX$84.9
-0.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,039 $1,039
$199 MX$3,449
422.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.0K $30.0K
$5,207 MX$90.4K
476.86%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53 $45.53
$35.93 MX$624
26.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.15 $29.15
$39.39 MX$684
-26.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 $64.2
$80.3 MX$1,394
-20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$87.6 MX$1,520
28.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,097 $1,097
$963 MX$16.7K
13.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$884 $884
$482 MX$8,370
83.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 $1,728
$1,645 MX$28.6K
5.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$1,192 MX$20.7K
15.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,012 $3,012
$3,957 MX$68.7K
-23.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,941 $2,941
$6,513 MX$113.1K
-54.85%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,378 $4,378
$726 MX$12.6K
502.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

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

Last update for Aberdeen, WA: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,097 in Aberdeen, WA and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aberdeen, WA pays 503% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Aberdeen, WA vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $253 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Aberdeen, WA?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aberdeen, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Aberdeen, WA pays 503% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aberdeen, WA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,097 in Aberdeen, WA versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,039 in Aberdeen, WA versus $199 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Aberdeen, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ€“ a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $101 in Aberdeen, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Aberdeen, WA or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,026 in Aberdeen, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Aberdeen, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aberdeen, WA or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aberdeen, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 60% less than in Aberdeen, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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