😐A single person spends $2,456 per month in Buckley, WA vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,641 per month in Buckley, WA vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,827 per month in Buckley, WA vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Buckley, WA costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Buckley, WA sits 83% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.42$27.42
$11.73MX$203
133.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4$70.4
$41.62MX$719
69.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.21$12.21
$10.64MX$184
14.76%
Cappuccino
$6.23$6.23
$3.52MX$60.8
76.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$1.51MX$26.09
128.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$0.97MX$16.82
175.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.96$6.96
$2.95MX$51.0
135.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84$5.84
$4.45MX$77.0
31.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.38MX$23.90
-40.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14$2.14
$1.89MX$32.69
13.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.14$4.14
$1.64MX$28.29
152.44%
Eggs
$3.92$3.92
$2.51MX$43.30
56.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.35$13.35
$8.34MX$144
60.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.65$8.65
$8.34MX$144
3.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.04$13.04
$10.73MX$185
21.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$2.60MX$45.00
24.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$1.46MX$25.18
7.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$1.90MX$32.84
46.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30$3.30
$2.08MX$35.88
58.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.96$2.96
$1.78MX$30.68
66.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$2.19MX$37.76
26.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47$2.47
$1.04MX$17.97
137.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73$2.73
$1.08MX$18.60
152.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.17$10.17
$4.08MX$70.5
149.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.86$6.86
$10.32MX$178
-33.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.71MX$29.59
15.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59$4.59
$2.58MX$44.50
77.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.51MX$8.81
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87$4.87
$3.26MX$56.4
49.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23$1.23
$2.49MX$43.05
-50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.86$24.86
$3.25MX$56.1
664.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.31MX$22.59
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K$35.7K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
17.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
12.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124$124
$82.9MX$1,432
49.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.1$61.1
$22.22MX$384
174.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.13$40.13
$29.34MX$507
36.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.58$43.58
$51.6MX$892
-15.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.03$11.03
$5.07MX$87.5
117.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,446$1,446
$201MX$3,470
620.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$5,212MX$90.1K
351.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.28$27.28
$36.92MX$638
-26.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1$60.1
$39.79MX$688
51.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.73$41.73
$78.5MX$1,356
-46.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.4$65.4
$87.1MX$1,505
-24.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,582$1,582
$973MX$16.8K
62.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,338$1,338
$468MX$8,082
186.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,652$2,652
$1,641MX$28.4K
61.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,257$2,257
$1,221MX$21.1K
84.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,654$2,654
$3,946MX$68.2K
-32.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,387$2,387
$6,498MX$112.3K
-63.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buckley, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,475$2,475
$664MX$11.5K
272.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.66
11.42
-41.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Buckley, WA: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,582 in Buckley, WA versus $973 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 273% higher in Buckley, WA, 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 $70.0 in Buckley, WA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Buckley, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Buckley, WA?
Yes – Buckley, WA is pricier by about 89%, 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 $3,684 per month in Buckley, WA and $1,945 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Buckley, WA or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Buckley, WA and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Buckley, WA and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Buckley, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Buckley, WA or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Buckley, WA at $2,456. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buckley, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Buckley, WA 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, Buckley, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Buckley, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared