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: $3,085 in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,415 in Bakersfield, CA versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,746 in Bakersfield, CA versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Bakersfield, CA is roughly 146% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bakersfield, CA is 131% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$11.99 MX$209

107.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.3 $67.3

$41.78 MX$728

61.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.70 $12.70

$10.75 MX$187

18.14%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$3.50 MX$60.9

62.57%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.45 MX$25.22

82.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.88 MX$15.41

123.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.95 MX$51.3

91.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.51 MX$78.6

13.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.43 MX$24.94

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.84 MX$31.99

104.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$1.57 MX$27.31

266.24%

Eggs

$2.91 $2.91

$2.51 MX$43.74

15.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$8.28 MX$144

48.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.59 $15.59

$8.43 MX$147

84.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 $16.66

$10.68 MX$186

55.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.61 MX$45.43

64.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.44 MX$25.04

20.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$1.96 MX$34.16

142.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$2.09 MX$36.47

159.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.85 MX$32.24

0.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.17 MX$37.74

38.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.03 MX$17.96

155.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.07 MX$18.70

165.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.56 $10.56

$4.10 MX$71.4

157.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$10.17 MX$177

80.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.68 MX$29.17

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.53 MX$43.98

79.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 $2.37

$0.51 MX$8.87

364.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.7 $57.7

$26.04 MX$453

121.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.23 MX$56.3

-8.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.41 MX$41.88

-17.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.35 $29.35

$3.23 MX$56.2

808.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.32 MX$23.00

-3.79%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-20.43%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

11.39%

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

$346 $346

$82.0 MX$1,428

321.92%

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

$54.7 $54.7

$22.95 MX$400

138.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$30.11 MX$524

133.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.91 $36.91

$52.0 MX$905

-28.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.22 $25.22

$18.53 MX$323

36.10%

Cinema Ticket

$15.12 $15.12

$4.98 MX$86.6

203.61%

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

$1,472 $1,472

$197 MX$3,438

645.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

344.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.85 $47.85

$35.60 MX$620

34.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.04 $41.04

$40.33 MX$702

1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 $92.7

$78.8 MX$1,371

17.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$174 $174

$88.9 MX$1,549

96.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$947 MX$16.5K

98.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 $1,469

$474 MX$8,254

209.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,433 $2,433

$1,644 MX$28.6K

48.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,429 $2,429

$1,211 MX$21.1K

100.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 $2,463

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-39.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,435 $2,435

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-62.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,649 $3,649

$654 MX$11.4K

458.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

11.42

-42.56%

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

Last update for Bakersfield, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Bakersfield, CA and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bakersfield, CA pays 458% 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: $67.0 in Bakersfield, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 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

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 146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 458% 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: $1,882 in Bakersfield, CA versus $947 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 $42.00 versus $67.0 in Bakersfield, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,085 per month in Bakersfield, CA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,085 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 146% less than in Bakersfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.