Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,558 per month in Arlington, VA vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,438 per month in Arlington, VA vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,318 per month in Arlington, VA vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Arlington, VA costs about 174% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Arlington, VA sits 166% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 $24.71

$11.73 MX$203

110.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.8 $89.8

$41.62 MX$720

115.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.64 MX$184

10.90%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.52 MX$60.9

62.22%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$1.51 MX$26.12

96.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$0.97 MX$16.84

171.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 $7.82

$2.95 MX$51.0

165.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 $8.77

$4.45 MX$77.0

97.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.38 MX$23.93

-13.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.89 MX$32.72

124.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.05 $7.05

$1.64 MX$28.32

329.88%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$2.51 MX$43.34

77.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.44 $17.44

$8.34 MX$144

109.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$8.34 MX$144

79.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.16 $21.16

$10.73 MX$186

97.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$2.60 MX$45.04

130.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.46 MX$25.20

43.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$1.90 MX$32.87

174.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.95 $5.95

$2.08 MX$35.91

186.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.78 MX$30.71

100.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.19 MX$37.80

52.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.04 MX$17.99

159.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.08 MX$18.62

125.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.73 $12.73

$4.08 MX$70.6

212.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.89 $16.89

$10.32 MX$178

63.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.71 MX$29.61

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.58 MX$44.54

60.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.58 $3.58

$0.51 MX$8.81

601.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 $123

$26.46 MX$458

363.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.26 MX$56.4

-6.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.49 MX$43.09

-38.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.73 $21.73

$3.25 MX$56.2

568.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.31 MX$22.61

-32.82%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

0.14%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

7.94%

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

$210 $210

$82.9 MX$1,433

153.57%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$22.22 MX$384

170.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$29.34 MX$507

146.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.2 $77.2

$51.6 MX$893

49.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.93 $23.93

$18.32 MX$317

30.62%

Cinema Ticket

$15.18 $15.18

$5.07 MX$87.6

199.41%

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

$2,044 $2,044

$201 MX$3,473

917.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

679.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$36.92 MX$639

52.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$39.79 MX$688

26.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 $94.8

$78.5 MX$1,357

20.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$87.1 MX$1,506

62.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$973 MX$16.8K

149.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,884 $1,884

$468 MX$8,090

302.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,268 $4,268

$1,641 MX$28.4K

160.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,611 $3,611

$1,221 MX$21.1K

195.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,732 $5,732

$3,946 MX$68.3K

45.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,600 $4,600

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-29.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,663 $6,663

$664 MX$11.5K

903.57%

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 Arlington, VA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,426 in Arlington, VA versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 904% higher in Arlington, VA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Arlington, VA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $494 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arlington, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, VA costs about 174% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,337 per month in Arlington, VA and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 98% more in Arlington, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Arlington, VA and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Arlington, VA at $3,558. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arlington, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $3,558 in Arlington, VA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arlington, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.