Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlanta, GA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,251 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,512 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Atlanta, GA costs about 131% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Atlanta, GA sits 123% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.90 $20.90

$11.73 MX$203

78.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.3 $90.3

$41.62 MX$721

117.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.64 MX$184

11.47%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$3.52 MX$61.0

42.90%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$1.51 MX$26.17

73.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.97 MX$16.87

136.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$2.95 MX$51.1

101.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.45 MX$77.2

80.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.38 MX$23.97

-28.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.89 MX$32.78

101.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$1.64 MX$28.37

232.32%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$2.51 MX$43.42

61.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$8.34 MX$145

60.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$8.34 MX$145

90.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.05 $17.05

$10.73 MX$186

58.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$2.60 MX$45.12

177.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.46 MX$25.25

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.82 $6.82

$1.90 MX$32.94

258.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$2.08 MX$35.98

182.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.78 MX$30.77

84.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.19 MX$37.87

50.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.04 MX$18.02

142.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.08 MX$18.66

182.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.28 $7.28

$4.08 MX$70.7

78.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$10.32 MX$179

46.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.71 MX$29.67

107.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 $5.49

$2.58 MX$44.63

112.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.51 MX$8.83

384.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.5 $93.5

$26.46 MX$459

253.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.26 MX$56.5

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.49 MX$43.17

-39.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.99 $23.99

$3.25 MX$56.3

638.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.31 MX$22.65

-33.59%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

18.22%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

10.09%

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

$196 $196

$82.9 MX$1,436

137.02%

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

$56.4 $56.4

$22.22 MX$385

153.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$29.34 MX$508

150.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 $45.78

$51.6 MX$895

-11.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.84 $9.84

$18.32 MX$317

-46.29%

Cinema Ticket

$16.14 $16.14

$5.07 MX$87.8

218.34%

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

$1,246 $1,246

$201 MX$3,480

520.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.8K $25.8K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

395.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$36.92 MX$640

40.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 $39.72

$39.79 MX$689

-0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$78.5 MX$1,360

26.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$87.1 MX$1,509

28.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 $1,790

$973 MX$16.9K

84.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,500 $1,500

$468 MX$8,105

220.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,094 $3,094

$1,641 MX$28.4K

88.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$1,221 MX$21.2K

89.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,821 $3,821

$3,946 MX$68.4K

-3.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,660 $2,660

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-59.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,346 $5,346

$664 MX$11.5K

705.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

11.42

-42.73%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $973 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.

Salaries run about 705% higher in Atlanta, GA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Atlanta, GA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $481 vs $249 – 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

Atlanta, GA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Atlanta, GA is pricier by about 131%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,486 per month in Atlanta, GA and $1,945 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.

Groceries cost about 93% more in Atlanta, GA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Atlanta, GA and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Atlanta, GA at $2,991. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atlanta, GA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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