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 $3,502 per month in Burbank, CA vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,450 per month in Burbank, CA vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,397 per month in Burbank, CA vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Burbank, CA costs about 171% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Burbank, CA sits 163% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$11.73 MX$202

67.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.4 $85.4

$41.78 MX$719

104.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$10.41 MX$179

14.22%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$3.61 MX$62.1

42.66%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$1.46 MX$25.06

97.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.97 MX$16.70

130.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.48 $8.48

$2.92 MX$50.3

190.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$4.62 MX$79.5

115.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.43 MX$24.59

-16.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.90 MX$32.70

124.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.57 MX$26.95

165.61%

Eggs

$6.94 $6.94

$2.64 MX$45.34

162.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$8.44 MX$145

51.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.26 $17.26

$8.58 MX$148

101.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.49 $14.49

$11.00 MX$189

31.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.70 MX$46.51

123.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.51 MX$25.92

26.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.91 MX$32.93

108.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.17 MX$37.37

115.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.87 MX$32.25

57.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.23 MX$38.43

41.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.08 MX$18.60

71.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.07 MX$18.47

106.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.94 $10.94

$4.16 MX$71.6

162.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$10.29 MX$177

48.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.68 MX$28.95

54.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.53 MX$43.59

23.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.55 MX$9.53

214.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.20 MX$55.0

-1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.46 MX$42.37

-30.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.79 $28.79

$3.20 MX$55.0

799.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.32 MX$22.72

-2.27%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-20.17%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.4K MX$402.5K

4.54%

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

$179 $179

$81.4 MX$1,400

119.96%

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

$45.90 $45.90

$22.41 MX$386

104.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.9 $65.9

$29.97 MX$516

120.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 $131

$51.6 MX$887

154.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 $17.66

$5.16 MX$88.9

242.25%

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

$1,805 $1,805

$202 MX$3,471

794.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

345.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$35.61 MX$613

64.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 $35.08

$40.37 MX$695

-13.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$78.6 MX$1,353

6.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 $83.4

$86.9 MX$1,495

-3.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,168 $3,168

$950 MX$16.3K

233.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,115 $2,115

$478 MX$8,227

342.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$1,621 MX$27.9K

64.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$1,223 MX$21.0K

83.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,403 $5,403

$673 MX$11.6K

702.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

11.42

-43.17%

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

Last update for Burbank, CA: June 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,168 in Burbank, CA versus $950 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 703% 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 $85.0 in Burbank, CA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $254 – 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 171% 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 $5,253 per month in Burbank, CA and $1,941 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 $3,502 in Burbank, CA and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,805 per month in Burbank, CA and $202 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 $1,294, than in Burbank, CA at $3,502. 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 $1,294 versus $3,502 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.