Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, MA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ashland, MA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,738 per month in Ashland, MA vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,085 per month in Ashland, MA vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,431 per month in Ashland, MA vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ashland, MA costs about 106% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ashland, MA sits 100% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.70 $24.70

$13.02 MX$221

89.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$115 $115

$46.25 MX$784

147.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.02 $15.02

$12.59 MX$213

19.30%

Cappuccino

$6.21 $6.21

$4.00 MX$67.9

55.25%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$1.42 MX$24.08

120.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.81 MX$13.73

206.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.05 MX$51.7

167.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.82 MX$116

16.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.71 MX$29.04

-42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.22 MX$37.62

108.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.32 $8.32

$1.72 MX$29.13

383.72%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$2.71 MX$45.99

50.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 $19.07

$9.37 MX$159

103.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.31 $10.31

$8.86 MX$150

16.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$12.78 MX$217

24.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.13 MX$53.0

62.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.55 MX$26.24

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.15 MX$36.51

180.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.35 MX$39.89

191.49%

Potato (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$2.02 MX$34.23

208.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.99 MX$33.67

85.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.24 MX$21.09

156.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.19 MX$20.21

109.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 $11.06

$4.65 MX$78.8

137.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.47 MX$177

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.58 MX$26.82

22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.92 MX$49.48

-6.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.56 MX$9.53

262.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$5.32 MX$90.2

-62.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$3.72 MX$63.0

-57.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 $10.83

$5.78 MX$97.9

87.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.55 MX$26.27

-43.23%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.4K MX$379.1K

62.46%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.6K MX$433.3K

1.26%

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

$223 $223

$89.3 MX$1,513

150.30%

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

$65.7 $65.7

$23.30 MX$395

181.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 $54.9

$31.72 MX$538

73.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.22 $41.22

$68.8 MX$1,165

-40.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$13.87 $13.87

$5.06 MX$85.7

174.11%

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

$1,234 $1,234

$222 MX$3,765

455.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$4,293 MX$72.7K

452.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$46.21 MX$783

14.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$79.1 $79.1

$44.43 MX$753

78.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.5 MX$1,618

6.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$92.5 MX$1,568

42.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 $1,905

$1,069 MX$18.1K

78.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,275 $1,275

$393 MX$6,663

224.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,822 $2,822

$1,988 MX$33.7K

41.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,095 $2,095

$1,304 MX$22.1K

60.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,753 $2,753

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-31.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,392 $2,392

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-63.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

11.6

-46.29%

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

Last update for Ashland, MA: August 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,905 in Ashland, MA versus $1,069 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Ashland, MA versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $470 vs $277 – 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

Ashland, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, MA costs about 106% 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 $4,108 per month in Ashland, MA and $1,995 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,738 in Ashland, MA and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,234 per month in Ashland, MA and $222 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Ashland, MA at $2,738. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ashland, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,330 versus $2,738 in Ashland, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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