Cost of Living Comparison Between Burbank, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Burbank, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,745 per month in Burbank, CA vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,717 per month in Burbank, CA vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,690 per month in Burbank, CA vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Burbank, CA costs about 182% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Burbank, CA sits 173% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.52 $24.52

$13.02 MX$221

88.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$46.25 MX$784

120.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.31 $13.31

$12.59 MX$213

5.72%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.00 MX$67.9

46.00%

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

$3.68 $3.68

$1.42 MX$24.08

159.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$0.81 MX$13.73

243.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$3.05 MX$51.7

162.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$6.82 MX$116

75.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.71 MX$29.04

-19.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.22 MX$37.62

123.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.72 MX$29.13

182.56%

Eggs

$4.75 $4.75

$2.71 MX$45.99

75.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 $15.62

$9.37 MX$159

66.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$8.86 MX$150

71.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$12.78 MX$217

53.05%

Apples (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$3.13 MX$53.0

124.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.55 MX$26.24

51.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.15 MX$36.51

131.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$2.35 MX$39.89

132.77%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.02 MX$34.23

68.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.99 MX$33.67

48.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.24 MX$21.09

122.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.19 MX$20.21

131.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.93 $11.93

$4.65 MX$78.8

156.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$10.47 MX$177

42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.58 MX$26.82

39.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.92 MX$49.48

-2.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.56 MX$9.53

219.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$5.32 MX$90.2

-44.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.72 MX$63.0

-49.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.13 $32.13

$5.78 MX$97.9

455.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.55 MX$26.27

-11.61%

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

$37.6K $37.6K

$22.4K MX$379.1K

67.92%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.6K MX$433.3K

0.76%

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

$275 $275

$89.3 MX$1,513

207.81%

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

$75.5 $75.5

$23.30 MX$395

223.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.6 $66.6

$31.72 MX$538

110.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$132 $132

$68.8 MX$1,165

91.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$18.25 $18.25

$5.06 MX$85.7

260.67%

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

$1,718 $1,718

$222 MX$3,765

673.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.6K $32.6K

$4,293 MX$72.7K

658.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.8 $84.8

$46.21 MX$783

83.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 $46.23

$44.43 MX$753

4.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 $94.9

$95.5 MX$1,618

-0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$92.5 MX$1,568

49.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,156 $3,156

$1,069 MX$18.1K

195.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,092 $2,092

$393 MX$6,663

431.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,429 $5,429

$747 MX$12.7K

626.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

11.6

-46.21%

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

Last update for Burbank, CA: August 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,156 in Burbank, CA 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 627% higher in Burbank, CA, 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 $102 in Burbank, CA versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 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

Burbank, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Burbank, CA costs about 182% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,618 per month in Burbank, CA and $1,995 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,745 in Burbank, CA and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,718 per month in Burbank, CA and $222 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Burbank, CA at $3,745. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Burbank, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,330 versus $3,745 in Burbank, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burbank, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.