😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,488 in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,603 in Blackfoot, ID versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,718 in Blackfoot, ID versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Blackfoot, ID is roughly 98% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Blackfoot, ID is 86% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82$18.82
$11.95MX$208
57.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3$81.3
$41.94MX$730
93.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46$11.46
$10.42MX$181
9.98%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$3.51MX$61.2
48.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$1.52MX$26.39
53.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73$1.73
$0.91MX$15.84
90.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.15$6.15
$3.04MX$52.9
102.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56$7.56
$4.37MX$76.1
73.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.42MX$24.73
-36.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61$1.61
$1.83MX$31.87
-12.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05$2.05
$1.63MX$28.45
25.77%
Eggs
$2.85$2.85
$2.54MX$44.20
12.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.07$8.07
$8.57MX$149
-5.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78$5.78
$8.49MX$148
-31.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.29$16.29
$10.80MX$188
50.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88$2.88
$2.75MX$47.94
4.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$1.44MX$25.00
-11.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84$2.84
$1.89MX$32.83
50.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.17MX$37.77
33.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06$1.06
$1.78MX$30.97
-40.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$2.22MX$38.71
-24.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76$1.76
$1.07MX$18.60
64.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19$1.19
$1.08MX$18.79
10.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.03$8.03
$4.15MX$72.2
93.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.95$9.95
$10.45MX$182
-4.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48$1.48
$1.74MX$30.34
-14.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$2.58MX$44.92
-33.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55$2.55
$0.51MX$8.94
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.94MX$451
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.45$2.45
$3.21MX$55.9
-23.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41$1.41
$2.50MX$43.55
-43.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.87$24.87
$3.19MX$55.4
679.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75$0.75
$1.26MX$21.87
-40.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
-17.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174$174
$82.0MX$1,427
112.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.8$67.8
$22.73MX$395
198.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.4$82.4
$29.42MX$512
180.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.38$43.38
$52.2MX$908
-16.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.96$13.96
$4.93MX$85.9
183.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$985$985
$202MX$3,511
388.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K$18.2K
$5,217MX$90.8K
248.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7$65.7
$35.93MX$625
82.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.28$44.28
$40.33MX$702
9.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104$104
$79.9MX$1,390
29.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$89.3MX$1,554
25.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630$1,630
$948MX$16.5K
71.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,336$1,336
$465MX$8,097
187.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,584$2,584
$1,630MX$28.4K
58.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,212$2,212
$1,193MX$20.8K
85.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,966$1,966
$3,933MX$68.4K
-50.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,970$1,970
$6,428MX$111.9K
-69.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blackfoot, ID
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
11.42
-43.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Blackfoot, ID: July 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,630 in Blackfoot, ID and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Blackfoot, ID vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $252 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
Blackfoot, ID vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Blackfoot, ID?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,733 in Blackfoot, ID and $1,888 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.
What is the rent difference between Blackfoot, ID and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,630 in Blackfoot, ID versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Blackfoot, ID and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Blackfoot, ID. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Blackfoot, ID and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,488 per month in Blackfoot, ID versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Blackfoot, ID or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,488 in Blackfoot, ID, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Blackfoot, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Blackfoot, ID or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Blackfoot, ID, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Blackfoot, ID. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Blackfoot, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared