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 $2,636 per month in Ashland, MA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,905 per month in Ashland, MA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,174 per month in Ashland, MA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ashland, MA costs about 105% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ashland, MA sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.83 $24.83

$11.94 MX$209

107.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$42.75 MX$748

133.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.59 MX$185

11.99%

Cappuccino

$4.30 $4.30

$3.62 MX$63.4

18.78%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$1.47 MX$25.69

91.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.94 MX$16.51

112.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$3.09 MX$54.1

95.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.46 MX$78.0

60.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.43 MX$24.94

-30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.88 MX$32.97

84.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$1.63 MX$28.50

218.40%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$2.64 MX$46.26

75.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$8.21 MX$144

128.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.03 $13.03

$8.29 MX$145

57.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.10 MX$194

33.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.65 MX$46.40

47.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.50 MX$26.26

-6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.99 MX$34.79

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.08 MX$36.33

97.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.79 MX$31.29

83.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.18 MX$38.09

16.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.08 MX$18.84

72.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.04 MX$18.15

53.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.93 $12.93

$3.97 MX$69.5

225.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 $13.97

$10.20 MX$179

36.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.73 MX$30.22

-0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.50 MX$43.71

-2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.52 MX$9.07

292.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.14 MX$55.0

-3.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.40 MX$42.04

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.00 $29.00

$3.09 MX$54.0

838.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.27 MX$22.28

-32.28%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-9.20%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

9.30%

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

$191 $191

$82.0 MX$1,435

133.02%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$22.45 MX$393

138.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.7 $65.7

$29.66 MX$519

121.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.97 $42.97

$51.9 MX$908

-17.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$15.07 $15.07

$4.97 MX$87.0

203.22%

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

$1,292 $1,292

$198 MX$3,462

553.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

460.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.93 $46.93

$36.34 MX$636

29.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.12 $34.12

$40.05 MX$701

-14.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 $55.7

$79.9 MX$1,398

-30.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$88.9 MX$1,555

67.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$963 MX$16.9K

65.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 $1,357

$465 MX$8,133

192.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,596 MX$27.9K

65.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$1,209 MX$21.2K

80.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,086 $5,086

$3,942 MX$69.0K

29.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,242 $4,242

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-34.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

11.42

-44.13%

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

Last update for Ashland, MA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in Ashland, MA versus $963 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 $100 in Ashland, MA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $251 – 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 105% 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 $3,954 per month in Ashland, MA and $1,930 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 $2,636 in Ashland, MA and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,292 per month in Ashland, MA and $198 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 $1,287, than in Ashland, MA at $2,636. 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 $1,287 versus $2,636 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.