😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,600 in Ashland, OR versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,766 in Ashland, OR versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,932 in Ashland, OR versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Ashland, OR is roughly 99% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ashland, OR is 89% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16$15.16
$11.96MX$203
26.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7$69.7
$47.38MX$804
47.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88$9.88
$11.75MX$199
-15.91%
Cappuccino
$4.91$4.91
$4.12MX$70.0
19.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.40MX$23.74
46.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$0.91MX$15.48
102.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93$5.93
$3.21MX$54.4
84.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95$7.95
$7.07MX$120
12.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.68MX$28.44
-46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$3.51$3.51
$2.15MX$36.48
63.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$1.77MX$30.10
102.26%
Eggs
$1.74$1.74
$2.82MX$47.76
-38.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24$12.24
$9.20MX$156
33.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.12$11.12
$9.23MX$157
20.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.29$14.29
$12.64MX$214
13.05%
Apples(1kg)
$6.67$6.67
$2.95MX$50.1
126.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.58MX$26.79
6.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22$3.22
$2.22MX$37.70
45.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$2.36MX$40.09
118.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90$1.90
$1.99MX$33.81
-4.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.98MX$33.58
-18.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94$1.94
$1.24MX$21.04
56.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.27$3.27
$1.21MX$20.55
170.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.05$10.05
$4.60MX$78.1
118.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.92$8.92
$10.52MX$178
-15.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.69MX$28.70
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38$2.38
$2.77MX$47.06
-14.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.60MX$10.22
228.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.11$4.11
$5.24MX$88.8
-21.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53$2.53
$3.65MX$61.9
-30.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.46$44.46
$5.78MX$98.1
669.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.54MX$26.09
-22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K$33.4K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
46.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K$23.3K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
-9.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199$199
$90.7MX$1,538
119.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$81.6$81.6
$25.19MX$427
224.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.0$84.0
$31.75MX$539
164.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.19$42.19
$68.8MX$1,167
-38.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.89$13.89
$4.86MX$82.5
185.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,116$1,116
$226MX$3,828
394.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K$19.8K
$4,194MX$71.1K
372.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0$62.0
$47.38MX$804
30.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.8$70.8
$43.45MX$737
62.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8$88.8
$80.2MX$1,361
10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120$120
$91.4MX$1,550
31.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,592$1,592
$1,086MX$18.4K
46.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,321$1,321
$409MX$6,933
223.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,501$2,501
$1,972MX$33.5K
26.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,140$2,140
$1,281MX$21.7K
67.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,709$2,709
$4,046MX$68.6K
-33.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,366$2,366
$6,704MX$113.7K
-64.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashland, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.1
11.45
-46.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashland, OR: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Ashland, OR and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Ashland, OR vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $278 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
Ashland, OR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ashland, OR?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,900 in Ashland, OR and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ashland, OR and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,592 in Ashland, OR versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,116 in Ashland, OR versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ashland, OR or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $70.0 in Ashland, OR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ashland, OR or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,600 in Ashland, OR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ashland, OR or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashland, OR, 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 99% less than in Ashland, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ashland, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared