Cost of Living Comparison Between Annapolis, MD and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Annapolis, MD and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,405 in Annapolis, MD versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,807 in Annapolis, MD versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,210 in Annapolis, MD versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Annapolis, MD is roughly 163% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Annapolis, MD is 148% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.50 $29.50

$11.71 MX$199

151.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 $80.4

$46.59 MX$791

72.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$11.65 MX$198

-12.79%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.09 MX$69.5

37.65%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$1.37 MX$23.34

86.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.83 MX$14.16

142.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.08 $7.08

$3.35 MX$56.9

111.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.57 $8.57

$6.91 MX$117

24.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.73 MX$29.33

-34.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.26 MX$38.39

52.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$1.77 MX$30.05

206.78%

Eggs

$6.51 $6.51

$2.73 MX$46.41

138.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 $10.42

$9.18 MX$156

13.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.92 MX$151

18.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$12.60 MX$214

20.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.02 MX$51.3

95.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.57 MX$26.68

36.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.17 $7.17

$2.13 MX$36.10

236.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.54 $7.54

$2.26 MX$38.46

233.63%

Potato (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$2.00 MX$34.04

276.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.06 MX$35.06

117.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.18 MX$20.04

178.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.20 MX$20.45

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.20 $9.20

$4.63 MX$78.7

98.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.69 MX$182

40.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.62 MX$27.50

9.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.88 MX$48.93

27.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.02 $4.02

$0.57 MX$9.74

605.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$142 $142

$29.83 MX$507

376.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$5.45 MX$92.5

-39.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$3.70 MX$62.9

-57.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.83 $29.83

$5.98 MX$102

398.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.55 MX$26.38

-39.35%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

47.08%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

-3.50%

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

$202 $202

$89.1 MX$1,514

126.80%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$25.04 MX$425

110.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$93.4 $93.4

$31.50 MX$535

196.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 $67.5

$67.8 MX$1,151

-0.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$13.25 $13.25

$5.05 MX$85.8

162.38%

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

$1,684 $1,684

$225 MX$3,820

648.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K $19.7K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

367.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.58 $46.58

$47.44 MX$806

-1.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.02 $20.02

$44.98 MX$764

-55.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 $92.8

$82.0 MX$1,392

13.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$92.1 MX$1,564

34.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 $2,107

$1,069 MX$18.2K

97.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 $1,816

$405 MX$6,884

347.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,935 MX$32.9K

95.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,764 $2,764

$1,301 MX$22.1K

112.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,576 $5,576

$749 MX$12.7K

644.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

11.45

-47.16%

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

Last update for Annapolis, MD: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,107 in Annapolis, MD and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Annapolis, MD pays 645% 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: $80.0 in Annapolis, MD vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $277 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

Annapolis, MD vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 163% lower than in Annapolis, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 645% higher in Annapolis, MD, 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: $2,107 in Annapolis, MD versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,405 per month in Annapolis, MD versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 376% less than in Annapolis, MD. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,405 in Annapolis, MD, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Annapolis, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,293 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Annapolis, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.