😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,530 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,756 in Brownsburg, IN versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,983 in Brownsburg, IN versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Brownsburg, IN is roughly 101% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brownsburg, IN is 90% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73$18.73
$11.72MX$204
59.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.3$76.3
$41.89MX$731
82.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04$11.04
$10.51MX$183
5.04%
Cappuccino
$5.21$5.21
$3.59MX$62.5
45.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51$2.51
$1.51MX$26.31
66.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$0.92MX$15.96
118.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.18$6.18
$2.96MX$51.6
108.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$4.41MX$76.9
61.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.40MX$24.35
-29.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$1.88MX$32.87
83.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$1.56MX$27.19
181.41%
Eggs
$4.11$4.11
$2.61MX$45.50
57.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.46$12.46
$8.32MX$145
49.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68$11.68
$8.35MX$146
39.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32$15.32
$10.86MX$189
41.07%
Apples(1kg)
$4.95$4.95
$2.71MX$47.31
82.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.51MX$26.25
7.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18$4.18
$1.87MX$32.67
123.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66$4.66
$2.19MX$38.19
112.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$1.86MX$32.40
50.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.23MX$38.90
28.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.07MX$18.63
89.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$1.09MX$18.94
102.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.37$9.37
$4.19MX$73.0
123.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.78$11.78
$10.43MX$182
12.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$1.66MX$28.91
10.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41$3.41
$2.61MX$45.56
30.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.54MX$9.45
277.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$456
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46$3.46
$3.08MX$53.7
12.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$2.40MX$41.94
-31.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.80$28.80
$3.13MX$54.5
820.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.31MX$22.87
-35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K$29.4K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-1.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
9.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191$191
$81.3MX$1,418
134.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$22.56MX$393
138.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6$67.6
$30.05MX$524
124.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.77$42.77
$52.9MX$923
-19.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.74$13.74
$4.92MX$85.8
179.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,293$1,293
$201MX$3,502
543.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,175MX$90.2K
359.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4$50.4
$35.92MX$627
40.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.55$39.55
$40.13MX$700
-1.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3$88.3
$79.7MX$1,390
10.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$86.5MX$1,508
31.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,613$1,613
$978MX$17.1K
64.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,346$1,346
$470MX$8,206
186.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,614$2,614
$1,651MX$28.8K
58.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,203$2,203
$1,203MX$21.0K
83.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,352$2,352
$3,953MX$69.0K
-40.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,515$2,515
$6,607MX$115.2K
-61.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,886$7,886
$677MX$11.8K
1065.53%
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 Brownsburg, IN: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,613 in Brownsburg, IN and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 1066% 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: $76.0 in Brownsburg, IN vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $252 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
Brownsburg, IN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Brownsburg, IN?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brownsburg, IN or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 1066% higher in Brownsburg, IN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Brownsburg, IN and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,613 in Brownsburg, IN versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Brownsburg, IN and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Brownsburg, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Brownsburg, IN and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,530 per month in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Brownsburg, IN or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,530 in Brownsburg, IN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Brownsburg, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brownsburg, IN or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brownsburg, IN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brownsburg, IN or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Brownsburg, IN and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Brownsburg, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brownsburg, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared