Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abingdon, VA and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,813 in Abingdon, VA, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Abingdon, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,813
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abingdon, VA 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 Abingdon, VA and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,813 per month in Abingdon, VA vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Abingdon, VA $1,813
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,852 per month in Abingdon, VA vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Abingdon, VA $2,852
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $3,891 per month in Abingdon, VA vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Abingdon, VA $3,891
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Abingdon, VA costs about 51% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Abingdon, VA sits 34% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.13 $22.13
$10.86 MX$201
103.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$44.21 MX$817
72.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 $9.94
$11.76 MX$217
-15.48%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$3.68 MX$68.0
44.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.34 MX$24.79
37.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.82 MX$15.24
141.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 $4.95
$3.06 MX$56.6
61.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$4.94 MX$91.2
22.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.47 MX$27.17
-21.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.22 MX$40.95
69.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.90 $7.90
$1.48 MX$27.32
433.78%
Eggs
$3.89 $3.89
$2.49 MX$45.99
56.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.32 $18.32
$7.52 MX$139
143.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.78 $13.78
$7.96 MX$147
73.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.26 $18.26
$12.57 MX$232
45.27%
Apples (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$2.78 MX$51.3
179.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.43 MX$26.37
2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.28 $6.28
$2.62 MX$48.37
139.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$2.14 MX$39.49
125.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.02 MX$37.38
58.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.99 MX$36.74
48.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.14 MX$21.01
76.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.20 MX$22.18
195.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 $7.78
$4.26 MX$78.7
82.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.85 $13.85
$10.02 MX$185
38.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.54 MX$28.41
5.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.66 MX$49.17
46.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.53 MX$9.73
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.11 $7.11
$4.90 MX$90.6
45.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.43 MX$63.5
-32.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.73 $14.73
$5.38 MX$99.4
173.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.45 MX$26.76
-37.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
40.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
11.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$85.4 MX$1,577
101.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.03 $35.03
$23.46 MX$434
49.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$28.43 MX$525
119.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$62.2 MX$1,149
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.87 $11.87
$5.10 MX$94.3
132.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,291 $1,291
$201 MX$3,715
541.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,990 $9,990
$3,947 MX$72.9K
153.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.13 $35.13
$44.39 MX$820
-20.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.24 $30.24
$41.35 MX$764
-26.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.7 MX$1,344
-10.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 $78.5
$89.6 MX$1,656
-12.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 $741
$979 MX$18.1K
-24.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 $603
$373 MX$6,887
61.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-20.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 $1,149
$1,095 MX$20.2K
4.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abingdon, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$738 MX$13.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.13
11.45
-46.46%

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

Last update for Abingdon, VA: 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
Abingdon, VA
$603
Playa del Carmen
$373 38.1% $230
Groceries & Markets
Abingdon, VA
$482
Playa del Carmen
$258 46.3% $223
Eating Out
Abingdon, VA
$323
Playa del Carmen
$200 38% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abingdon, VA
$269
Playa del Carmen
$137 49% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Abingdon, VA
$94
Playa del Carmen
$112 18.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Abingdon, VA
$24 *
Playa del Carmen
$72 205% $49
Getting Around
Abingdon, VA
$19 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 177% $33

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Abingdon, VA versus $979 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Abingdon, VA versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $482 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Abingdon, VA
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
07:38 7:38 AM
06:38 6:38 AM
1 h behind Abingdon, VA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,000
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Abingdon, VA Playa del Carmen 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Abingdon, VA
  • 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
Abingdon, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Abingdon, VA and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,813 in Abingdon, VA, $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 51% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Abingdon, VA compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,719 per month in Abingdon, VA and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Abingdon, VA and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Abingdon, VA and $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 86% more in Abingdon, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Abingdon, VA at $1,813. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abingdon, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Abingdon, VA and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,813 in Abingdon, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Abingdon, VA and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abingdon, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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