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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,608 in Astoria, OR versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,752 in Astoria, OR versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,895 in Astoria, OR versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Astoria, OR is roughly 100% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Astoria, OR is 89% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$11.96 MX$203
65.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$47.38 MX$804
69.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.04 $8.04
$11.75 MX$199
-31.57%
Cappuccino
$4.68 $4.68
$4.12 MX$70.0
13.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.40 MX$23.74
39.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.91 MX$15.48
12.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$3.21 MX$54.4
57.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$7.07 MX$120
-43.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.68 MX$28.44
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.15 MX$36.48
69.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$1.77 MX$30.10
127.68%
Eggs
$4.84 $4.84
$2.82 MX$47.76
71.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 $14.84
$9.20 MX$156
61.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.65 $13.65
$9.23 MX$157
47.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.27 $18.27
$12.64 MX$214
44.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$2.95 MX$50.1
60.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.58 MX$26.79
10.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.22 MX$37.70
75.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.36 MX$40.09
73.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.99 MX$33.81
47.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.98 MX$33.58
67.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.24 MX$21.04
42.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.21 MX$20.55
74.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.39 $13.39
$4.60 MX$78.1
191.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$10.52 MX$178
42.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.69 MX$28.70
-1.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.77 MX$47.06
6.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.60 MX$10.22
223.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$5.24 MX$88.8
-32.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.65 MX$61.9
-38.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.3 $50.3
$5.78 MX$98.1
769.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.54 MX$26.09
-22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K $34.1K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
49.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$25.8K MX$437.9K
-6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$90.7 MX$1,538
139.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$25.19 MX$427
139.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.0 $97.0
$31.75 MX$539
205.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.40 $43.40
$68.8 MX$1,167
-36.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 $15.02
$4.86 MX$82.5
209.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,054 $1,054
$226 MX$3,828
366.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K $16.5K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
293.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 $57.2
$47.38 MX$804
20.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.35 $47.35
$43.45 MX$737
8.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 $84.0
$80.2 MX$1,361
4.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 $79.5
$91.4 MX$1,550
-13.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 $1,398
$1,086 MX$18.4K
28.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 $1,417
$409 MX$6,933
246.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,467 $2,467
$1,972 MX$33.5K
25.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 $2,022
$1,281 MX$21.7K
57.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,583 $2,583
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-36.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,596 $2,596
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-61.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astoria, OR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.07
11.45
-46.99%

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

Last update for Astoria, OR: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,398 in Astoria, OR and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Astoria, OR vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 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
Astoria, OR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Astoria, OR and in Playa del Carmen?
Astoria, OR and Playa del Carmen differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,608 vs $1,305 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Astoria, OR compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,912 in Astoria, 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Astoria, OR and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,398 in Astoria, 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 grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Astoria, OR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Astoria, OR or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,608 per month in Astoria, OR versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,608 in Astoria, OR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Astoria, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Astoria, OR and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Where should expats move: Astoria, OR or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Astoria, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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