Cost of Living Comparison Between Astoria, NY and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Astoria, NY and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,895 in Astoria, NY versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Astoria, NY versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,912 in Astoria, NY versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 123% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Astoria, NY is 116% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.75 $16.75

$11.73 MX$203

42.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 $59.2

$41.62 MX$720

42.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 $7.06

$10.64 MX$184

-33.65%

Cappuccino

$3.36 $3.36

$3.52 MX$60.9

-4.55%

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

$1.79 $1.79

$1.51 MX$26.12

18.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.97 MX$16.84

58.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.95 MX$51.0

67.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 $7.71

$4.45 MX$77.0

73.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.38 MX$23.93

-19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.89 MX$32.72

90.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.64 MX$28.32

42.07%

Eggs

$2.95 $2.95

$2.51 MX$43.34

17.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$8.34 MX$144

30.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$8.34 MX$144

-5.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.01 $10.01

$10.73 MX$186

-6.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.60 MX$45.04

4.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.46 MX$25.20

23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.90 MX$32.87

57.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.08 MX$35.91

46.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.78 MX$30.71

-5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.19 MX$37.80

-10.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.04 MX$17.99

48.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.08 MX$18.62

35.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.72 $14.72

$4.08 MX$70.6

260.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 $19.71

$10.32 MX$178

90.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.71 MX$29.61

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.58 MX$44.54

36.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.51 MX$8.81

472.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$26.46 MX$458

399.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.26 MX$56.4

-10.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.49 MX$43.09

-10.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.29 $42.29

$3.25 MX$56.2

1201.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.31 MX$22.61

-30.53%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-17.14%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

2.37%

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

$101 $101

$82.9 MX$1,433

21.29%

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

$36.32 $36.32

$22.22 MX$384

63.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.88 $29.88

$29.34 MX$507

1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$51.6 MX$893

36.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$17.45 $17.45

$5.07 MX$87.6

244.18%

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

$1,907 $1,907

$201 MX$3,473

849.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K $14.3K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

174.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.19 $25.19

$36.92 MX$639

-31.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.36 $20.36

$39.79 MX$688

-48.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.54 $29.54

$78.5 MX$1,357

-62.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 $50.3

$87.1 MX$1,506

-42.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$973 MX$16.8K

130.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 $1,830

$468 MX$8,090

291.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,741 $3,741

$1,641 MX$28.4K

127.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,549 $2,549

$1,221 MX$21.1K

108.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for Astoria, NY: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,240 in Astoria, NY and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Astoria, NY vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $249 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

Astoria, NY vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astoria, NY and Playa del Carmen differ by about 123% in total monthly costs ($2,895 vs $1,297 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,343 in Astoria, NY and $1,945 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,240 in Astoria, NY versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,895 per month in Astoria, NY versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 123% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 400% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,895 in Astoria, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Astoria, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Astoria, NY and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.