Cost of Living Comparison Between Adelanto, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Adelanto, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Adelanto, CA versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,826 in Adelanto, CA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,956 in Adelanto, CA versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Adelanto, CA is roughly 107% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Adelanto, CA is 95% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.93 $19.93

$11.96 MX$203

66.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.51 $49.51

$47.38 MX$804

4.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.81 $14.81

$11.75 MX$199

26.04%

Cappuccino

$6.16 $6.16

$4.12 MX$70.0

49.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.40 MX$23.74

41.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.91 MX$15.48

8.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$3.21 MX$54.4

155.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.07 MX$120

1.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.68 MX$28.44

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.15 MX$36.48

6.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.77 MX$30.10

29.38%

Eggs

$3.39 $3.39

$2.82 MX$47.76

20.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 $19.76

$9.20 MX$156

114.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$9.23 MX$157

-24.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.66 $21.66

$12.64 MX$214

71.36%

Apples (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$2.95 MX$50.1

176.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.58 MX$26.79

113.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.22 MX$37.70

28.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.36 MX$40.09

71.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.99 MX$33.81

-1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.98 MX$33.58

43.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.24 MX$21.04

49.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.21 MX$20.55

125.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.81 $11.81

$4.60 MX$78.1

156.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.94 $15.94

$10.52 MX$178

51.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.69 MX$28.70

31.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.77 MX$47.06

59.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.60 MX$10.22

270.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 $2.86

$5.24 MX$88.8

-45.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.65 MX$61.9

-30.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.9 $60.9

$5.78 MX$98.1

953.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.54 MX$26.09

-9.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

59.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-0.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$251 $251

$90.7 MX$1,538

176.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$75.6 $75.6

$25.19 MX$427

200.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$31.75 MX$539

119.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.43 $37.43

$68.8 MX$1,167

-45.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$14.11 $14.11

$4.86 MX$82.5

190.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,453 $1,453

$226 MX$3,828

543.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.8K $36.8K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

778.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.0 $88.0

$47.38 MX$804

85.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.92 $45.92

$43.45 MX$737

5.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$80.2 MX$1,361

-1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$91.4 MX$1,550

39.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,086 MX$18.4K

47.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 $1,304

$409 MX$6,933

219.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,494 $2,494

$1,972 MX$33.5K

26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 $2,156

$1,281 MX$21.7K

68.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,983 $2,983

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-26.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,478 $2,478

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-63.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,788 $7,788

$773 MX$13.1K

907.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

11.45

-45.50%

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

Last update for Adelanto, CA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,600 in Adelanto, CA and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Adelanto, CA pays 907% 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: $50.0 in Adelanto, CA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $278 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

Adelanto, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 907% higher in Adelanto, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,600 in Adelanto, CA versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,453 in Adelanto, CA versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $50.0 in Adelanto, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,695 in Adelanto, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Adelanto, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Adelanto, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Adelanto, CA 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Adelanto, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.