Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,228 in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,885 in Boca Raton, FL versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,543 in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 157% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boca Raton, FL is 142% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$11.99 MX$209

85.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$41.78 MX$728

105.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$10.75 MX$187

12.47%

Cappuccino

$4.59 $4.59

$3.50 MX$60.9

31.14%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.45 MX$25.22

78.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.88 MX$15.41

131.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.95 MX$51.3

108.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$4.51 MX$78.6

54.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.43 MX$24.94

-25.17%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.84 MX$31.99

128.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.57 MX$27.31

151.59%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$2.51 MX$43.74

70.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 $11.44

$8.28 MX$144

38.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$8.43 MX$147

32.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$10.68 MX$186

45.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.61 MX$45.43

88.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.44 MX$25.04

6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$1.96 MX$34.16

121.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.09 MX$36.47

163.16%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.85 MX$32.24

133.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$2.17 MX$37.74

84.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.03 MX$17.96

133.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.07 MX$18.70

141.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.10 MX$71.4

37.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 $14.07

$10.17 MX$177

38.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.68 MX$29.17

18.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.53 MX$43.98

-14.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.51 MX$8.87

286.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.7 $68.7

$26.04 MX$453

163.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.23 MX$56.3

23.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 $0.73

$2.41 MX$41.88

-69.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.32 $30.32

$3.23 MX$56.2

838.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.32 MX$23.00

-32.58%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-17.01%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

1.76%

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

$243 $243

$82.0 MX$1,428

195.78%

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

$48.56 $48.56

$22.95 MX$400

111.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$30.11 MX$524

123.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.84 $35.84

$52.0 MX$905

-31.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.94 $44.94

$18.53 MX$323

142.53%

Cinema Ticket

$14.36 $14.36

$4.98 MX$86.6

188.35%

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

$1,261 $1,261

$197 MX$3,438

538.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

655.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.49 $31.49

$35.60 MX$620

-11.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 $41.23

$40.33 MX$702

2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 $65.1

$78.8 MX$1,371

-17.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.5 $61.5

$88.9 MX$1,549

-30.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 $2,738

$947 MX$16.5K

189.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,902 $1,902

$474 MX$8,254

301.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,112 $5,112

$1,644 MX$28.6K

210.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,512 $3,512

$1,211 MX$21.1K

190.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,624 $8,624

$4,056 MX$70.6K

112.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,366 $6,366

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-1.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,896 $5,896

$654 MX$11.4K

801.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

11.42

-44.05%

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

Last update for Boca Raton, FL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 802% 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: $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 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

Boca Raton, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 802% higher in Boca Raton, FL, 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: $2,738 in Boca Raton, FL 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 $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,228 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,228 in Boca Raton, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Boca Raton, FL. 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 Boca Raton, FL, 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 157% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.