Cost of Living Comparison Between Breckenridge, CO and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Breckenridge, CO and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,405 per month in Breckenridge, CO vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,877 per month in Breckenridge, CO vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,349 per month in Breckenridge, CO vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Breckenridge, CO costs about 163% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Breckenridge, CO sits 148% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$11.71 MX$198
72.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$46.59 MX$788
73.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 $10.92
$11.65 MX$197
-6.27%
Cappuccino
$6.06 $6.06
$4.09 MX$69.2
48.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.37 MX$23.23
78.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.83 MX$14.09
161.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.18 $7.18
$3.35 MX$56.7
114.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$6.91 MX$117
2.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.73 MX$29.20
-40.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.26 MX$38.21
31.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.77 MX$29.91
54.80%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$2.73 MX$46.19
54.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.90 $10.90
$9.18 MX$155
18.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.31 $10.31
$8.92 MX$151
15.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.16 $15.16
$12.60 MX$213
20.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$3.02 MX$51.1
70.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.57 MX$26.55
-3.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.13 MX$35.93
100.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$2.26 MX$38.28
112.39%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.00 MX$33.88
73.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.06 MX$34.90
-20.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.18 MX$19.94
72.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.20 MX$20.35
42.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90 $9.90
$4.63 MX$78.4
113.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 $18.29
$10.69 MX$181
71.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.62 MX$27.38
52.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.88 MX$48.70
-8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.57 MX$9.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.83 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$5.45 MX$92.1
-55.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$3.70 MX$62.6
-50.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.17 $25.17
$5.98 MX$101
320.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.55 MX$26.26
-34.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$22.3K MX$377.4K
12.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$25.9K MX$438.7K
-4.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$89.1 MX$1,507
138.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.4 $56.4
$25.04 MX$423
125.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.8 $70.8
$31.50 MX$532
124.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 $70.3
$67.8 MX$1,146
3.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 $27.92
$28.92 MX$489
-3.46%
Cinema Ticket
$12.09 $12.09
$5.05 MX$85.4
139.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,335 $1,335
$225 MX$3,803
493.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$4,222 MX$71.4K
196.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0 $61.0
$47.44 MX$802
28.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.91 $29.91
$44.98 MX$760
-33.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$82.0 MX$1,386
-3.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$92.1 MX$1,557
27.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,545 $2,545
$1,069 MX$18.1K
137.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,151 $2,151
$405 MX$6,852
430.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,244 $5,244
$1,935 MX$32.7K
170.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,583 $3,583
$1,301 MX$22.0K
175.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K $10.2K
$3,995 MX$67.5K
155.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,470 $9,470
$6,626 MX$112.0K
42.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Breckenridge, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,099 $6,099
$749 MX$12.7K
714.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.08
11.45
-46.90%

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

Last update for Breckenridge, CO: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,545 in Breckenridge, CO versus $1,069 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.

Salaries run about 715% higher in Breckenridge, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Breckenridge, CO versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $277 – 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
Breckenridge, CO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Breckenridge, CO?
Yes – Breckenridge, CO is pricier by about 163%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,108 per month in Breckenridge, CO and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Breckenridge, CO and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,405 in Breckenridge, CO and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,335 per month in Breckenridge, CO and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Breckenridge, CO or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Breckenridge, CO at $3,405. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Breckenridge, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Breckenridge, CO or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Breckenridge, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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