😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Apopka, FL versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,851 in Apopka, FL versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,007 in Apopka, FL versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Apopka, FL is roughly 108% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Apopka, FL is 101% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67$19.67
$11.73MX$205
67.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$41.62MX$727
79.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.95$9.95
$10.64MX$186
-6.48%
Cappuccino
$5.08$5.08
$3.52MX$61.5
44.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07$3.07
$1.51MX$26.37
103.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37$2.37
$0.97MX$17.00
144.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.08$6.08
$2.95MX$51.5
106.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93$7.93
$4.45MX$77.8
78.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$1.38MX$24.16
-20.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.92$3.92
$1.89MX$33.04
107.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$1.64MX$28.59
70.12%
Eggs
$4.62$4.62
$2.51MX$43.76
84.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.43$11.43
$8.34MX$146
37.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.18$8.18
$8.34MX$146
-1.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.72$14.72
$10.73MX$187
37.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$2.60MX$45.48
87.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08$2.08
$1.46MX$25.45
42.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.67$3.67
$1.90MX$33.19
93.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.37$3.37
$2.08MX$36.26
62.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$1.78MX$31.01
43.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33$2.33
$2.19MX$38.16
6.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19$2.19
$1.04MX$18.16
110.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$1.08MX$18.80
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.65$8.65
$4.08MX$71.3
112.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.10$15.10
$10.32MX$180
46.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07$2.07
$1.71MX$29.90
21.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.58MX$44.98
7.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.51MX$8.90
303.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.2$58.2
$26.46MX$462
119.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87$2.87
$3.26MX$57.0
-11.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51$1.51
$2.49MX$43.51
-39.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.67$35.67
$3.25MX$56.7
997.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.31MX$22.83
-31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K$23.1K
$30.3KMX$528.8K
-23.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$23.4KMX$409.2K
5.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$82.9MX$1,447
130.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.9$69.9
$22.22MX$388
214.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.3$78.3
$29.34MX$512
166.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.56$43.56
$51.6MX$902
-15.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.49$14.49
$5.07MX$88.5
185.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$912$912
$201MX$3,507
354.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,813$9,813
$5,212MX$91.0K
88.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3$65.3
$36.92MX$645
76.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.82$37.82
$39.79MX$695
-4.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8$93.8
$78.5MX$1,370
19.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$87.1MX$1,521
27.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,627$1,627
$973MX$17.0K
67.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$468MX$8,169
188.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,609$2,609
$1,641MX$28.7K
58.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,225$2,225
$1,221MX$21.3K
82.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,627$9,627
$664MX$11.6K
1350.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
11.42
-42.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Apopka, FL: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,627 in Apopka, FL and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Apopka, FL pays 1350% 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: $75.0 in Apopka, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $249 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
Apopka, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Apopka, FL?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Apopka, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Apopka, FL pays 1350% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Apopka, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,627 in Apopka, FL versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Apopka, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $75.0 in Apopka, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Apopka, FL vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Apopka, FL versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Apopka, FL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,695 in Apopka, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Apopka, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Apopka, FL or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Apopka, FL, 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 108% less than in Apopka, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Apopka, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared