😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,632 in Abington, MA versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,813 in Abington, MA versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,994 in Abington, MA versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Abington, MA is roughly 107% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Abington, MA is 96% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91$19.91
$11.87MX$204
67.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.1$65.1
$42.90MX$736
51.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.17$12.17
$10.65MX$183
14.27%
Cappuccino
$4.14$4.14
$3.45MX$59.2
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$1.50MX$25.81
44.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$0.95MX$16.28
78.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.01$5.01
$3.03MX$51.9
65.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$4.61MX$79.1
54.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.38MX$23.61
-32.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31$3.31
$1.85MX$31.70
78.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.84$5.84
$1.61MX$27.65
262.73%
Eggs
$3.70$3.70
$2.59MX$44.51
42.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.81$17.81
$8.26MX$142
115.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.85$13.85
$8.37MX$144
65.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.31$19.31
$10.66MX$183
81.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.75$3.75
$2.63MX$45.12
42.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39$1.39
$1.49MX$25.53
-6.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$1.92MX$32.94
96.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06$4.06
$2.09MX$35.81
94.26%
Potato(1kg)
$3.22$3.22
$1.86MX$31.88
73.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56$2.56
$2.26MX$38.81
13.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87$1.87
$1.06MX$18.23
76.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$1.09MX$18.67
51.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.16$13.16
$4.15MX$71.2
217.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.83$14.83
$10.39MX$178
42.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.72MX$29.59
2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$2.61MX$44.85
27.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.54MX$9.30
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09$3.09
$3.13MX$53.7
-1.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72$1.72
$2.51MX$43.09
-31.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.55$29.55
$3.15MX$54.1
838.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.27MX$21.88
-33.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K$35.6K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
17.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K$24.7K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193$193
$83.0MX$1,425
132.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4$52.4
$22.71MX$390
130.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9$66.9
$29.46MX$506
126.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.85$43.85
$51.0MX$875
-14.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.12$15.12
$4.93MX$84.5
206.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,726$1,726
$197MX$3,386
774.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.1K$30.1K
$5,280MX$90.6K
470.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.25$47.25
$36.90MX$633
28.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.43$34.43
$39.89MX$685
-13.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8$85.8
$80.0MX$1,373
7.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1$99.1
$89.5MX$1,536
10.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575$1,575
$956MX$16.4K
64.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$477MX$8,189
182.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,654$2,654
$1,646MX$28.3K
61.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,205$2,205
$1,225MX$21.0K
80.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,703$2,703
$3,918MX$67.2K
-31.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,406$2,406
$6,459MX$110.9K
-62.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abington, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,671$5,671
$667MX$11.4K
750.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
11.42
-47.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abington, MA: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,575 in Abington, MA and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abington, MA pays 750% 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: $65.0 in Abington, MA vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $250 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
Abington, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abington, MA or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Abington, MA. 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 Abington, MA or Playa del Carmen?
Abington, MA pays 750% 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 Abington, MA vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,575 in Abington, MA versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Abington, MA and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,726 in Abington, MA versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Abington, MA vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $65.0 in Abington, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Abington, MA or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,632 in Abington, MA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Abington, MA. 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, Abington, MA or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 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 Abington, MA compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Abington, MA 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 107% less than in Abington, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Abington, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared