πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,379 in Baraboo, WI versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,166 in Baraboo, WI versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,952 in Baraboo, WI versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Baraboo, WI is roughly 89% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Baraboo, WI is 78% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.09$15.09
$11.67MX$202
29.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.38$40.38
$41.88MX$726
-3.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46$11.46
$10.40MX$180
10.19%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$3.61MX$62.6
38.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$1.47MX$25.45
4.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$0.91MX$15.80
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10$5.10
$3.03MX$52.6
68.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48$3.48
$4.47MX$77.4
-22.15%
π Groceries & Markets
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.38MX$23.83
-40.58%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11$3.11
$1.84MX$31.93
69.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26$3.26
$1.61MX$27.82
102.48%
Eggs
$2.95$2.95
$2.57MX$44.52
14.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57$7.57
$8.49MX$147
-10.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.44$11.44
$8.49MX$147
34.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19$11.19
$10.99MX$190
1.82%
Apples(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$2.73MX$47.25
46.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26$1.26
$1.50MX$25.92
-16.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$1.96MX$33.93
51.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47$3.47
$2.12MX$36.70
63.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22$1.22
$1.86MX$32.30
-34.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$2.17MX$37.67
14.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61$1.61
$1.07MX$18.59
50.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$1.05MX$18.18
106.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22$11.22
$4.19MX$72.6
167.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.46$8.46
$10.28MX$178
-17.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.67MX$28.87
4.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29$3.29
$2.49MX$43.12
32.13%
π Getting Around
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$0.54MX$9.37
268.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44$3.44
$3.10MX$53.8
10.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56$1.56
$2.46MX$42.66
-36.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.67$29.67
$3.24MX$56.1
815.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.26MX$21.83
-20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K$24.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-18.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
9.21%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174$174
$84.0MX$1,456
106.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$22.21MX$385
133.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0$51.0
$29.65MX$514
72.01%
π Sport & Entertainment
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.40$29.40
$52.6MX$912
-44.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.80$10.80
$4.95MX$85.7
118.18%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,324$1,324
$198MX$3,438
567.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$5,322MX$92.2K
334.27%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.84$45.84
$35.95MX$623
27.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.28$39.28
$40.06MX$694
-1.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7$67.7
$78.8MX$1,365
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$86.5MX$1,499
26.75%
π Accommodation & Living
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,296$1,296
$977MX$16.9K
32.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292$1,292
$471MX$8,158
174.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,784$1,784
$1,595MX$27.6K
11.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,779$1,779
$1,215MX$21.1K
46.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,174$2,174
$4,032MX$69.9K
-46.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,177$2,177
$6,579MX$114.0K
-66.92%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Baraboo, WI
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.52
11.42
-42.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,296 in Baraboo, WI and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $40 in Baraboo, WI vs $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $252, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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
Baraboo, WI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baraboo, WI or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost β living expenses run 89% lower than in Baraboo, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baraboo, WI vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,568 in Baraboo, WI and $1,891 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baraboo, WI vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,296 in Baraboo, WI versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Baraboo, WI or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Baraboo, WI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Baraboo, WI compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,379 per month in Baraboo, WI versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen β a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Baraboo, WI or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Baraboo, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baraboo, WI or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Baraboo, WI compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Baraboo, WI 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 89% less than in Baraboo, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Baraboo, WI vs other spots: cost of living compared