Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakersfield, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,329 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,509 in Bakersfield, CA versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 141% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bakersfield, CA is 128% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.27 $19.27

$11.96 MX$203

61.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 $65.6

$47.38 MX$804

38.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$11.75 MX$199

17.19%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$4.12 MX$70.0

39.81%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$1.40 MX$23.74

84.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.91 MX$15.48

117.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.21 MX$54.4

90.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 $5.87

$7.07 MX$120

-16.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.68 MX$28.44

-32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.15 MX$36.48

87.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$1.77 MX$30.10

188.70%

Eggs

$3.30 $3.30

$2.82 MX$47.76

17.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$9.20 MX$156

41.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$9.23 MX$157

39.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.60 $15.60

$12.64 MX$214

23.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.95 MX$50.1

40.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.58 MX$26.79

25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.22 MX$37.70

74.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.36 MX$40.09

66.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.99 MX$33.81

10.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.98 MX$33.58

17.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.24 MX$21.04

63.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.21 MX$20.55

96.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$4.60 MX$78.1

120.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.64 $17.64

$10.52 MX$178

67.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.69 MX$28.70

10.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.77 MX$47.06

79.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.75 $1.75

$0.60 MX$10.22

191.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 $56.5

$29.70 MX$504

90.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$5.24 MX$88.8

-43.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.65 MX$61.9

-44.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.54 MX$26.09

-6.49%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

59.52%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

4.20%

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

$398 $398

$90.7 MX$1,538

338.74%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$25.19 MX$427

132.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$31.75 MX$539

129.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.22 $39.22

$68.8 MX$1,167

-42.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.46 $25.46

$29.37 MX$498

-13.31%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$4.86 MX$82.5

212.96%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$226 MX$3,828

574.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 $61.6

$47.38 MX$804

30.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.44 $48.44

$43.45 MX$737

11.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$80.2 MX$1,361

25.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$91.4 MX$1,550

34.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$1,086 MX$18.4K

60.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,585 $1,585

$409 MX$6,933

287.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,344 $2,344

$1,972 MX$33.5K

18.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,462 $2,462

$1,281 MX$21.7K

92.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,448 $2,448

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-39.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,523 $2,523

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-62.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,623 $3,623

$773 MX$13.1K

368.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

11.45

-44.45%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays 369% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 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

Bakersfield, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 141% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 369% higher in Bakersfield, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,740 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $66.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,149 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 141% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,149 in Bakersfield, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bakersfield, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bakersfield, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.