๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,616 in Apopka, FL versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,853 in Apopka, FL versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,091 in Apopka, FL versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Apopka, FL is roughly 107% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Apopka, FL is 95% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85$19.85
$11.67MX$202
70.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6$75.6
$41.88MX$726
80.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.11$10.11
$10.40MX$180
-2.79%
Cappuccino
$5.15$5.15
$3.61MX$62.6
42.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98$2.98
$1.47MX$25.45
102.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$0.91MX$15.80
150.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91$5.91
$3.03MX$52.6
95.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08$8.08
$4.47MX$77.4
80.76%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11$1.11
$1.38MX$23.83
-19.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.89$3.89
$1.84MX$31.93
111.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72$2.72
$1.61MX$27.82
68.94%
Eggs
$4.51$4.51
$2.57MX$44.52
75.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.53$11.53
$8.49MX$147
35.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.57$8.57
$8.49MX$147
0.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.26$14.26
$10.99MX$190
29.75%
Apples(1kg)
$4.68$4.68
$2.73MX$47.25
71.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99$1.99
$1.50MX$25.92
32.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$1.96MX$33.93
80.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41$3.41
$2.12MX$36.70
60.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66$2.66
$1.86MX$32.30
43.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$2.17MX$37.67
2.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22$2.22
$1.07MX$18.59
107.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$1.05MX$18.18
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.31$8.31
$4.19MX$72.6
98.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.15$15.15
$10.28MX$178
47.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$1.67MX$28.87
24.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$2.49MX$43.12
6.83%
๐ Getting Around
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.54MX$9.37
277.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.4$59.4
$26.27MX$455
126.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97$2.97
$3.10MX$53.8
-4.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49$1.49
$2.46MX$42.66
-39.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.54$35.54
$3.24MX$56.1
996.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.26MX$21.83
-28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K$23.6K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-21.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K$24.0K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
2.38%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$84.0MX$1,456
126.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3$68.3
$22.21MX$385
207.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.7$77.7
$29.65MX$514
162.16%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.23$43.23
$52.6MX$912
-17.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.56$14.56
$4.95MX$85.7
194.14%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$904$904
$198MX$3,438
355.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,890$9,890
$5,322MX$92.2K
85.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7$63.7
$35.95MX$623
77.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.24$38.24
$40.06MX$694
-4.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.9$92.9
$78.8MX$1,365
17.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$86.5MX$1,499
28.96%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574$1,574
$977MX$16.9K
61.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,333$1,333
$471MX$8,158
183.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,620$2,620
$1,595MX$27.6K
64.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,184$2,184
$1,215MX$21.1K
79.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Apopka, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,383$9,383
$714MX$12.4K
1213.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
11.42
-42.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Apopka, FL: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,574 in Apopka, FL and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐApopka, FL pays 1214% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $76 in Apopka, FL vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 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
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 107% 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 1214% 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: $1,574 in Apopka, FL versus $977 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 โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $76.0 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 $2,616 per month in Apopka, FL versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen โ a 107% 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,616 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 โ expenses run 107% 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