Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,163 in Aberdeen, WA, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aberdeen, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,163
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aberdeen, WA and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aberdeen, WA and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,163 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Aberdeen, WA $2,163
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,192 in Aberdeen, WA versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Aberdeen, WA $3,192
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,221 in Aberdeen, WA versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Aberdeen, WA $4,221
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Aberdeen, WA is roughly 80% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aberdeen, WA is 60% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.98 $24.98
$10.86 MX$201
130.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.0 $99.0
$44.21 MX$817
123.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 $11.98
$11.76 MX$217
1.87%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$3.68 MX$68.0
37.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.34 MX$24.79
128.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.82 MX$15.24
220.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$3.06 MX$56.6
97.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$4.94 MX$91.2
39.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.47 MX$27.17
-17.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.22 MX$40.95
45.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.48 MX$27.32
143.24%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$2.49 MX$45.99
95.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.39 $8.39
$7.52 MX$139
11.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.32 $8.32
$7.96 MX$147
4.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$12.57 MX$232
16.23%
Apples (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$2.78 MX$51.3
114.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.43 MX$26.37
30.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.62 MX$48.37
99.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.14 MX$39.49
111.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.02 MX$37.38
46.04%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.99 MX$36.74
52.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.14 MX$21.01
151.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.20 MX$22.18
101.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.39 $10.39
$4.26 MX$78.7
143.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.23 $13.23
$10.02 MX$185
32.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.54 MX$28.41
14.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.66 MX$49.17
-5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.53 MX$9.73
-1.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 $2.66
$4.90 MX$90.6
-45.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$3.43 MX$63.5
-49.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.97 $29.97
$5.38 MX$99.4
457.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.45 MX$26.76
-17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
56.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
12.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$305 $305
$85.4 MX$1,577
257.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$23.46 MX$434
199.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.7 $85.7
$28.43 MX$525
201.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.24 $31.24
$62.2 MX$1,149
-49.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 $5.14
$5.10 MX$94.3
0.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,050 $1,050
$201 MX$3,715
422.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.8K $30.8K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
679.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 $45.57
$44.39 MX$820
2.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.92 $28.92
$41.35 MX$764
-30.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.8 $55.8
$72.7 MX$1,344
-23.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6 $65.6
$89.6 MX$1,656
-26.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$922 $922
$979 MX$18.1K
-5.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$827 $827
$373 MX$6,887
121.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,280 $1,280
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-23.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,297 $1,297
$1,095 MX$20.2K
18.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,935 $2,935
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-25.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,993 $2,993
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-51.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,410 $4,410
$738 MX$13.6K
497.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.45
-41.83%

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

Last update for Aberdeen, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, WA
$827
Playa del Carmen
$373 54.9% $454
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, WA
$461
Playa del Carmen
$137 70.2% $324
Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, WA
$369
Playa del Carmen
$258 30% $111
Eating Out
Aberdeen, WA
$363
Playa del Carmen
$200 44.9% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, WA
$88
Playa del Carmen
$112 26.6% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, WA
$42
Playa del Carmen
$72 74.4% $31
Getting Around
Aberdeen, WA
$13 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 288% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $922 in Aberdeen, WA and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aberdeen, WA pays 498% 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: $99.0 in Aberdeen, WA vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $258 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aberdeen, WA
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
08:46 8:46 AM
10:46 10:46 AM
2 h ahead of Aberdeen, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,071
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aberdeen, WA Playa del Carmen 4,420 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aberdeen, WA
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and utilities. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Aberdeen, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 498% higher in Aberdeen, WA, 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: $922 in Aberdeen, WA versus $979 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 $1,050 in Aberdeen, WA versus $201 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $99.0 in Aberdeen, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aberdeen, WA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,163 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 – expenses run 80% less than in Aberdeen, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Aberdeen, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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