😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,313 in Abingdon-on-Thames versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,392 in Abingdon-on-Thames versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,471 in Abingdon-on-Thames versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Abingdon-on-Thames is roughly 78% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Abingdon-on-Thames is 73% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.56£15.32
$11.73MX$203
75.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.7£58.6
$41.62MX$719
89.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70£8.72
$10.64MX$184
9.96%
Cappuccino
$3.93£2.92
$3.52MX$60.8
11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66£1.98
$1.51MX$26.09
76.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31£1.72
$0.97MX$16.82
138.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.44£4.80
$2.95MX$51.0
118.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73£5.02
$4.45MX$77.0
51.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50£1.12
$1.38MX$23.90
8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37£1.02
$1.89MX$32.69
-27.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65£2.72
$1.64MX$28.29
122.56%
Eggs
$5.45£4.06
$2.51MX$43.30
117.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.54£7.11
$8.34MX$144
14.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.93£5.91
$8.34MX$144
-4.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.71£10.96
$10.73MX$185
37.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31£1.72
$2.60MX$45.00
-11.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63£1.22
$1.46MX$25.18
11.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42£1.80
$1.90MX$32.84
27.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06£2.28
$2.08MX$35.88
47.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76£1.31
$1.78MX$30.68
-1.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16£0.87
$2.19MX$37.76
-47.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02£0.76
$1.04MX$17.97
-1.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31£1.72
$1.08MX$18.60
113.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.55£13.07
$4.08MX$70.5
330.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.91£8.13
$10.32MX$178
5.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00£1.49
$1.71MX$29.59
16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44£2.56
$2.58MX$44.50
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20£3.13
$0.51MX$8.81
723.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.35£35.28
$26.46MX$457
78.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.44£3.31
$3.26MX$56.4
36.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54£1.15
$2.49MX$43.05
-38.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.34£24.09
$3.25MX$56.1
895.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86£1.39
$1.31MX$22.59
41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.4K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
25.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K£30.7K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
76.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206£154
$82.9MX$1,432
148.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.69£13.93
$22.22MX$384
-15.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6£39.95
$29.34MX$507
82.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.33£29.30
$51.6MX$892
-23.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.33£9.19
$5.07MX$87.5
143.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,533£1,142
$201MX$3,470
663.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K£13.4K
$5,212MX$90.1K
245.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0£55.9
$36.92MX$638
103.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.80£25.18
$39.79MX$688
-15.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116£86.6
$78.5MX$1,356
48.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148£110
$87.1MX$1,505
69.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,304£972
$973MX$16.8K
34.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,137£847
$468MX$8,082
143.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,058£1,534
$1,641MX$28.4K
25.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,846£1,375
$1,221MX$21.1K
51.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,813£3,585
$3,946MX$68.2K
21.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abingdon-on-Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,395£2,530
$664MX$11.5K
411.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abingdon-on-Thames: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,304 in Abingdon-on-Thames and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abingdon-on-Thames pays 411% 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: $79.0 in Abingdon-on-Thames vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $249 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
Abingdon-on-Thames vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abingdon-on-Thames or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 78% lower than in Abingdon-on-Thames. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Abingdon-on-Thames or Playa del Carmen?
Abingdon-on-Thames pays 411% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Abingdon-on-Thames vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,304 in Abingdon-on-Thames versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Abingdon-on-Thames or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Abingdon-on-Thames. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Abingdon-on-Thames vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $79.0 in Abingdon-on-Thames. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Abingdon-on-Thames or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,313 in Abingdon-on-Thames, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Abingdon-on-Thames. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Abingdon-on-Thames or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Abingdon-on-Thames compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Abingdon-on-Thames and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Abingdon-on-Thames. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Abingdon-on-Thames vs other spots: cost of living compared