Cost of Living Comparison Between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,616 per month in Bourne, MA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,911 per month in Bourne, MA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,207 per month in Bourne, MA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bourne, MA costs about 103% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bourne, MA sits 95% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 $17.19
$11.94 MX$209
43.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$42.75 MX$748
137.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$10.59 MX$185
15.39%
Cappuccino
$6.02 $6.02
$3.62 MX$63.4
66.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.47 MX$25.69
56.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.94 MX$16.51
67.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 $7.07
$3.09 MX$54.1
128.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 $7.16
$4.46 MX$78.0
60.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.43 MX$24.94
-8.39%
White Bread (500g)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.88 MX$32.97
131.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$1.63 MX$28.50
245.40%
Eggs
$6.56 $6.56
$2.64 MX$46.26
148.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.89 $13.89
$8.21 MX$144
69.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 $10.47
$8.29 MX$145
26.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.69 $19.69
$11.10 MX$194
77.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.60 $5.60
$2.65 MX$46.40
111.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.50 MX$26.26
75.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.99 MX$34.79
112.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$2.08 MX$36.33
104.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.79 MX$31.29
67.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.18 MX$38.09
18.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.08 MX$18.84
151.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.04 MX$18.15
168.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.17 $17.17
$3.97 MX$69.5
332.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.14 $15.14
$10.20 MX$179
48.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.73 MX$30.22
3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.50 MX$43.71
75.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.52 MX$9.07
280.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.97 MX$472
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.14 MX$55.0
-6.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.40 MX$42.04
-30.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.78 $41.78
$3.09 MX$54.0
1252.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.27 MX$22.28
-25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-23.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
8.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$82.0 MX$1,435
160.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$22.45 MX$393
142.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$29.66 MX$519
96.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.85 $43.85
$51.9 MX$908
-15.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67 MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.78 $19.78
$4.97 MX$87.0
297.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,744 $1,744
$198 MX$3,462
781.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K $15.9K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
201.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 $50.7
$36.34 MX$636
39.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.44 $39.44
$40.05 MX$701
-1.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$79.9 MX$1,398
8.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5 $99.5
$88.9 MX$1,555
11.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$963 MX$16.9K
66.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$465 MX$8,133
196.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,655 $2,655
$1,596 MX$27.9K
66.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,261 $2,261
$1,209 MX$21.2K
87.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,466 $2,466
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-37.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,663 $2,663
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-58.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bourne, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
11.42
-40.98%

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

Last update for Bourne, MA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Bourne, MA versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Bourne, MA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Bourne, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,616 in Bourne, MA, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 103% apart. Bourne, MA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bourne, MA compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,923 per month in Bourne, MA and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bourne, MA or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,616 in Bourne, MA and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,744 per month in Bourne, MA and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Bourne, MA at $2,616. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bourne, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $2,616 in Bourne, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bourne, MA or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bourne, MA and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bourne, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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