Cost of Living Comparison Between Alamogordo, NM and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Alamogordo, NM and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,032 in Alamogordo, NM versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,063 in Alamogordo, NM versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Alamogordo, NM is roughly 59% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Alamogordo, NM is 49% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.54 $17.54

$11.61 MX$201

51.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 $50.8

$42.75 MX$742

18.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 $5.10

$10.60 MX$184

-51.89%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$3.59 MX$62.3

27.02%

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

$2.02 $2.02

$1.45 MX$25.21

39.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.90 MX$15.58

118.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.03 MX$52.6

64.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.56 MX$79.2

-3.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.45 MX$25.20

-18.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.83 MX$31.72

115.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.61 MX$27.92

109.94%

Eggs

$5.11 $5.11

$2.54 MX$44.05

101.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$8.54 MX$148

91.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$8.47 MX$147

84.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.62 $19.62

$10.86 MX$189

80.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$2.73 MX$47.37

109.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.49 MX$25.91

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.90 $6.90

$1.94 MX$33.73

255.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.16 MX$37.57

175.93%

Potato (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$1.85 MX$32.05

224.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.19 MX$38.00

21.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.07 MX$18.62

101.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.08 MX$18.81

122.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 $9.52

$4.06 MX$70.5

134.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.46 MX$182

51.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.65 MX$28.71

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.55 MX$44.23

59.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.56 MX$9.65

260.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.14 MX$54.5

13.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.37 MX$41.17

-22.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.02 $29.02

$3.24 MX$56.2

795.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.31 MX$22.81

-41.98%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

-5.39%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

23.94%

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

$115 $115

$83.1 MX$1,443

38.56%

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

$45.29 $45.29

$22.15 MX$385

104.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.6 $66.6

$29.37 MX$510

126.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 $43.86

$51.2 MX$889

-14.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$18.69 MX$324

19.58%

Cinema Ticket

$10.85 $10.85

$4.89 MX$84.9

121.88%

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

$1,348 $1,348

$199 MX$3,449

578.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K $15.3K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

194.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$35.93 MX$624

58.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$39.39 MX$684

43.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$80.3 MX$1,394

9.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 $98.1

$87.6 MX$1,520

12.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 $1,027

$963 MX$16.7K

6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 $819

$482 MX$8,370

69.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,622 $1,622

$1,645 MX$28.6K

-1.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$1,192 MX$20.7K

15.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,712 $1,712

$3,957 MX$68.7K

-56.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 $1,598

$6,513 MX$113.1K

-75.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,745 $2,745

$726 MX$12.6K

277.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

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

Last update for Alamogordo, NM: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,027 in Alamogordo, NM and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alamogordo, NM pays 278% 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: $51 in Alamogordo, NM vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $479 vs $253 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

Alamogordo, NM vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alamogordo, NM and Playa del Carmen differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,001 vs $1,262 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Alamogordo, NM pays 278% more on average, 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: $1,027 in Alamogordo, NM versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Alamogordo, NM. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,001 per month in Alamogordo, NM versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,001 in Alamogordo, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Alamogordo, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Alamogordo, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.