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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,799 in Antioch, CA versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,970 in Antioch, CA versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,141 in Antioch, CA versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Antioch, CA is roughly 122% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Antioch, CA is 109% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89 $19.89
$11.67 MX$202
70.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 $78.8
$41.88 MX$726
88.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.33 $10.33
$10.40 MX$180
-0.67%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$3.61 MX$62.6
57.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.47 MX$25.45
75.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.91 MX$15.80
131.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.07 $8.07
$3.03 MX$52.6
166.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90 $7.90
$4.47 MX$77.4
76.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.38 MX$23.83
-11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.21 $4.21
$1.84 MX$31.93
128.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$1.61 MX$27.82
239.13%
Eggs
$4.62 $4.62
$2.57 MX$44.52
79.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.87 $15.87
$8.49 MX$147
86.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$8.49 MX$147
76.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.09 $19.09
$10.99 MX$190
73.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$2.73 MX$47.25
92.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.50 MX$25.92
37.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.96 MX$33.93
67.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.85 $6.85
$2.12 MX$36.70
223.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.86 MX$32.30
-4.84%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.17 MX$37.67
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.07 MX$18.59
153.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.05 MX$18.18
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.98 $7.98
$4.19 MX$72.6
90.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.83 $15.83
$10.28 MX$178
53.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.67 MX$28.87
23.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.49 MX$43.12
-18.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.54 MX$9.37
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 $3.96
$3.10 MX$53.8
27.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.46 MX$42.66
-25.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.50 $27.50
$3.24 MX$56.1
748.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.26 MX$21.83
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-7.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$23.4K MX$406.3K
12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$324 $324
$84.0 MX$1,456
285.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$22.21 MX$385
171.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 $75.7
$29.65 MX$514
155.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.79 $42.79
$52.6 MX$912
-18.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 $7.87
$4.95 MX$85.7
58.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,713 $1,713
$198 MX$3,438
763.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,931 $4,931
$5,322 MX$92.2K
-7.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.04 $25.04
$35.95 MX$623
-30.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.33 $22.33
$40.06 MX$694
-44.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 $92.2
$78.8 MX$1,365
16.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 $79.8
$86.5 MX$1,499
-7.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 $1,600
$977 MX$16.9K
63.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$471 MX$8,158
186.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,362 $3,362
$1,595 MX$27.6K
110.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,233 $2,233
$1,215 MX$21.1K
83.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,739 $2,739
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-32.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,719 $2,719
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-58.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$714 MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
11.42
-51.84%

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

Last update for Antioch, CA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,600 in Antioch, CA and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79 in Antioch, CA vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $252 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
Antioch, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Antioch, CA?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,198 in Antioch, CA and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Antioch, CA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,600 in Antioch, CA versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,713 in Antioch, CA versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Antioch, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $79.0 in Antioch, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Antioch, CA or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,799 in Antioch, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Antioch, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Antioch, CA or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Antioch, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Antioch, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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