Cost of Living Comparison Between Branson, MO and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Branson, MO and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,358 per month in Branson, MO vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,473 per month in Branson, MO vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,588 per month in Branson, MO vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Branson, MO costs about 87% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Branson, MO sits 75% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$11.61 MX$201

73.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 $50.8

$42.75 MX$742

18.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$10.60 MX$184

5.75%

Cappuccino

$4.46 $4.46

$3.59 MX$62.3

24.23%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$1.45 MX$25.21

-29.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.90 MX$15.58

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.03 MX$52.6

23.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.56 MX$79.2

7.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.45 MX$25.20

-23.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.83 MX$31.72

38.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$1.61 MX$27.92

96.27%

Eggs

$3.69 $3.69

$2.54 MX$44.05

45.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 $7.93

$8.54 MX$148

-7.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.47 MX$147

3.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$10.86 MX$189

17.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.73 MX$47.37

63.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.49 MX$25.91

-2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.94 MX$33.73

16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$2.16 MX$37.57

204.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.85 MX$32.05

21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.19 MX$38.00

-0.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.07 MX$18.62

37.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.08 MX$18.81

87.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.77 $6.77

$4.06 MX$70.5

66.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 $13.05

$10.46 MX$182

24.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.65 MX$28.71

18.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.55 MX$44.23

18.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.56 MX$9.65

248.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.14 MX$54.5

-18.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.37 MX$41.17

-8.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.03 $21.03

$3.24 MX$56.2

549.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.31 MX$22.81

-41.22%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

16.66%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

5.46%

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

$108 $108

$83.1 MX$1,443

29.79%

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

$61.3 $61.3

$22.15 MX$385

176.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$29.37 MX$510

79.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 $43.85

$51.2 MX$889

-14.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$4.89 MX$84.9

200.82%

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

$816 $816

$199 MX$3,449

310.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

453.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.56 $30.56

$35.93 MX$624

-14.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.62 $41.62

$39.39 MX$684

5.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 $74.7

$80.3 MX$1,394

-6.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$87.6 MX$1,520

42.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$963 MX$16.7K

63.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 $1,339

$482 MX$8,370

177.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,590 $2,590

$1,645 MX$28.6K

57.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$1,192 MX$20.7K

86.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Branson, MO: April 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Branson, MO 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 $51 in Branson, MO versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $253 – 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

Branson, MO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,358 in Branson, MO, $1,262 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 87% apart. Branson, MO costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,537 per month in Branson, MO and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Branson, MO and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Branson, MO, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Branson, MO at $2,358. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Branson, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,358 in Branson, MO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Branson, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.