😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,611 in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,810 in Brownsburg, IN versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,009 in Brownsburg, IN versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Brownsburg, IN is roughly 105% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brownsburg, IN is 94% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.10$19.10
$11.87MX$204
60.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2$75.2
$42.90MX$736
75.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.79$10.79
$10.65MX$183
1.31%
Cappuccino
$5.11$5.11
$3.45MX$59.2
48.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$1.50MX$25.81
72.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.95MX$16.28
115.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.01$6.01
$3.03MX$51.9
98.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82$6.82
$4.61MX$79.1
47.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$1.38MX$23.61
-28.26%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44$3.44
$1.85MX$31.70
85.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.37$4.37
$1.61MX$27.65
171.43%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$2.59MX$44.51
64.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.16$12.16
$8.26MX$142
47.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.48$11.48
$8.37MX$144
37.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.20$15.20
$10.66MX$183
42.59%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$2.63MX$45.12
82.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.49MX$25.53
10.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.13$4.13
$1.92MX$32.94
115.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76$4.76
$2.09MX$35.81
127.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.86MX$31.88
56.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$2.26MX$38.81
22.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00$2.00
$1.06MX$18.23
88.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$1.09MX$18.67
102.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62$9.62
$4.15MX$71.2
131.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.21$12.21
$10.39MX$178
17.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.72MX$29.59
4.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$2.61MX$44.85
32.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.54MX$9.30
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$3.13MX$53.7
10.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61$1.61
$2.51MX$43.09
-35.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.66$28.66
$3.15MX$54.1
809.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.27MX$21.88
-28.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-3.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
9.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$83.0MX$1,425
122.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6$52.6
$22.71MX$390
131.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7$67.7
$29.46MX$506
129.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.47$43.47
$51.0MX$875
-14.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.54$13.54
$4.93MX$84.5
174.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,306$1,306
$197MX$3,386
561.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,280MX$90.6K
341.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2$50.2
$36.90MX$633
36.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.53$39.53
$39.89MX$685
-0.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9$86.9
$80.0MX$1,373
8.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$89.5MX$1,536
27.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,611$1,611
$956MX$16.4K
68.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,365$1,365
$477MX$8,189
186.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,621$2,621
$1,646MX$28.3K
59.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,187$2,187
$1,225MX$21.0K
78.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,565$2,565
$3,918MX$67.2K
-34.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,446$2,446
$6,459MX$110.9K
-62.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brownsburg, IN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,018$8,018
$667MX$11.4K
1102.19%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 1102% 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: $75.0 in Brownsburg, IN vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $250 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 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brownsburg, IN or Playa del Carmen?
Brownsburg, IN pays 1102% more on average, 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: $1,611 in Brownsburg, IN versus $956 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,611 per month in Brownsburg, IN versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Brownsburg, IN or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,611 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 105% 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