😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,770 in Antioch, CA versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,970 in Antioch, CA versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,170 in Antioch, CA versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Antioch, CA is roughly 120% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Antioch, CA is 107% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81$19.81
$11.95MX$208
65.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4$78.4
$41.94MX$730
86.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.31$10.31
$10.42MX$181
-1.06%
Cappuccino
$5.53$5.53
$3.51MX$61.2
57.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$1.52MX$26.39
69.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.91MX$15.84
125.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.09$8.09
$3.04MX$52.9
166.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99$7.99
$4.37MX$76.1
82.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21$1.21
$1.42MX$24.73
-14.79%
White Bread(500g)
$4.17$4.17
$1.83MX$31.87
127.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$1.63MX$28.45
244.79%
Eggs
$4.64$4.64
$2.54MX$44.20
82.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.34$15.34
$8.57MX$149
79.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.18$15.18
$8.49MX$148
78.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.61$18.61
$10.80MX$188
72.31%
Apples(1kg)
$5.38$5.38
$2.75MX$47.94
95.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06$2.06
$1.44MX$25.00
43.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34$3.34
$1.89MX$32.83
76.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.07$7.07
$2.17MX$37.77
225.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73$1.73
$1.78MX$30.97
-2.81%
Onion(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$2.22MX$38.71
99.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67$2.67
$1.07MX$18.60
149.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$1.08MX$18.79
87.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.15$8.15
$4.15MX$72.2
96.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.69$15.69
$10.45MX$182
50.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$1.74MX$30.34
23.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.58MX$44.92
-20.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.51MX$8.94
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.94MX$451
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95$3.95
$3.21MX$55.9
23.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83$1.83
$2.50MX$43.55
-26.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.36$27.36
$3.19MX$55.4
757.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.26MX$21.87
-15.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K$27.7K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
-6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
11.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$328$328
$82.0MX$1,427
299.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.5$60.5
$22.73MX$395
166.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8$75.8
$29.42MX$512
157.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.43$43.43
$52.2MX$908
-16.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85$7.85
$4.93MX$85.9
59.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,682$1,682
$202MX$3,511
733.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,050$5,050
$5,217MX$90.8K
-3.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.28$25.28
$35.93MX$625
-29.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.38$22.38
$40.33MX$702
-44.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9$91.9
$79.9MX$1,390
15.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6$79.6
$89.3MX$1,554
-10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595$1,595
$948MX$16.5K
68.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,343$1,343
$465MX$8,097
188.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,393$3,393
$1,630MX$28.4K
108.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,263$2,263
$1,193MX$20.8K
89.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,778$2,778
$3,933MX$68.4K
-29.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,358$2,358
$6,428MX$111.9K
-63.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antioch, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,595 in Antioch, CA and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Antioch, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 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 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,155 in Antioch, CA and $1,888 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: $1,595 in Antioch, CA versus $948 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 $1,682 in Antioch, CA versus $202 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $78.0 in Antioch, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Antioch, CA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,770 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 120% less than in Antioch, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Antioch, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared