😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,947 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,044 in Aberdeen, WA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,141 in Aberdeen, WA versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Aberdeen, WA is roughly 51% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aberdeen, WA is 42% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.32$22.32
$11.71MX$198
90.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122$122
$46.59MX$789
162.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.05$12.05
$11.65MX$197
3.43%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$4.09MX$69.3
23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96$2.96
$1.37MX$23.28
116.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$0.83MX$14.12
204.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.18$6.18
$3.35MX$56.8
84.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89$6.89
$6.91MX$117
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$1.73MX$29.26
-36.99%
White Bread(500g)
$3.18$3.18
$2.26MX$38.29
40.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49$3.49
$1.77MX$29.98
97.18%
Eggs
$5.48$5.48
$2.73MX$46.29
100.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.77$8.77
$9.18MX$156
-4.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09$8.09
$8.92MX$151
-9.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.46$14.46
$12.60MX$214
14.76%
Apples(1kg)
$5.48$5.48
$3.02MX$51.2
81.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$1.57MX$26.61
22.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.37$7.37
$2.13MX$36.01
246.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50$4.50
$2.26MX$38.36
99.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.93$2.93
$2.00MX$33.95
46.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$2.06MX$34.98
53.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.77$2.77
$1.18MX$19.99
134.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.17$3.17
$1.20MX$20.40
164.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.54$10.54
$4.63MX$78.5
127.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08$13.08
$10.69MX$181
22.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.62MX$27.44
9.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$2.88MX$48.81
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52$0.52
$0.57MX$9.71
-8.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$505
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.45MX$92.3
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.70MX$62.8
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.98MX$101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14$1.14
$1.55MX$26.32
-26.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K$32.6K
$22.3KMX$378.3K
45.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$25.9KMX$439.6K
-2.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156$156
$89.1MX$1,510
75.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.7$54.7
$25.04MX$424
118.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8$63.8
$31.50MX$534
102.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.78$30.78
$67.8MX$1,148
-54.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$490
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.08$5.08
$5.05MX$85.6
0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,011$1,011
$225MX$3,811
349.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$48.9K$48.9K
$4,222MX$71.5K
1056.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53$44.53
$47.44MX$804
-6.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.75$28.75
$44.98MX$762
-36.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.8$54.8
$82.0MX$1,389
-33.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9$65.9
$92.1MX$1,560
-28.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938$938
$1,069MX$18.1K
-12.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818$818
$405MX$6,867
101.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,276$1,276
$1,935MX$32.8K
-34.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,341$1,341
$1,301MX$22.0K
3.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,987$2,987
$3,995MX$67.7K
-25.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,931$2,931
$6,626MX$112.3K
-55.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,376$4,376
$749MX$12.7K
484.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
11.45
-43.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aberdeen, WA: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $938 in Aberdeen, WA and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aberdeen, WA pays 484% 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: $122 in Aberdeen, WA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $277 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. The 51% 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 484% 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: $938 in Aberdeen, WA versus $1,069 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 $1,011 in Aberdeen, WA versus $225 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 $47.00 versus $122 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,947 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 51% 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