Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Brooklyn, NY and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,969 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,999 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,028 per month in Brooklyn, NY vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Brooklyn, NY costs about 215% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Brooklyn, NY sits 198% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.77 $19.77

$11.72 MX$203

68.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$41.89 MX$725

181.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.49 $12.49

$10.51 MX$182

18.84%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$3.59 MX$62.0

65.46%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$1.51 MX$26.10

86.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.92 MX$15.83

118.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$2.96 MX$51.2

175.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.41 MX$76.3

79.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.40 MX$24.16

6.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.75 $4.75

$1.88 MX$32.60

152.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$1.56 MX$26.97

301.28%

Eggs

$5.55 $5.55

$2.61 MX$45.14

112.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 $13.53

$8.32 MX$144

62.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.59 $12.59

$8.35 MX$145

50.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.86 MX$188

38.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.71 MX$46.93

122.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.51 MX$26.04

163.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$1.87 MX$32.41

197.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 $6.25

$2.19 MX$37.89

185.39%

Potato (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$1.86 MX$32.14

177.42%

Onion (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.23 MX$38.59

116.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.07 MX$18.48

158.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.09 MX$18.79

121.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$4.19 MX$72.4

260.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.26 $21.26

$10.43 MX$180

103.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.66 MX$28.68

51.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.61 MX$45.19

34.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.54 MX$9.37

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$26.16 MX$453

404.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.08 MX$53.3

-4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.40 MX$41.61

-11.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.58 $41.58

$3.13 MX$54.1

1228.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.31 MX$22.69

-27.48%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-14.98%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

6.29%

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

$163 $163

$81.3 MX$1,406

100.97%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$22.56 MX$390

164.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 $68.1

$30.05 MX$520

126.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 $108

$52.9 MX$915

104.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$67.4 $67.4

$18.39 MX$318

266.56%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$4.92 MX$85.1

304.27%

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

$1,926 $1,926

$201 MX$3,474

859.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K $14.4K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

178.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 $61.1

$35.92 MX$622

70.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.1 $59.1

$40.13 MX$694

47.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$79.7 MX$1,379

37.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$86.5 MX$1,496

55.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,178 $3,178

$978 MX$16.9K

224.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,408 $2,408

$470 MX$8,140

411.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,095 $6,095

$1,651 MX$28.6K

269.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,397 $4,397

$1,203 MX$20.8K

265.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.8K $11.8K

$3,953 MX$68.4K

198.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,692 $6,692

$6,607 MX$114.3K

1.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,803 $3,803

$677 MX$11.7K

462.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for Brooklyn, NY: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,178 in Brooklyn, NY versus $978 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 462% higher in Brooklyn, NY, 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 $118 in Brooklyn, NY versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $493 vs $252 – 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

Brooklyn, NY vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 215% apart. Brooklyn, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,954 per month in Brooklyn, NY and $1,890 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 $118 in Brooklyn, NY and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Brooklyn, NY at $3,969. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brooklyn, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Brooklyn, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $3,969 in Brooklyn, NY. 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, Brooklyn, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.