😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,577 in Camarillo, CA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,168 in Camarillo, CA versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,758 in Camarillo, CA versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Camarillo, CA is roughly 185% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Camarillo, CA is 168% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56$24.56
$11.99MX$210
104.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6$64.6
$41.78MX$733
54.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.02$10.02
$10.75MX$189
-6.79%
Cappuccino
$5.65$5.65
$3.50MX$61.3
61.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64$2.64
$1.45MX$25.41
82.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.88MX$15.52
138.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.88$6.88
$2.95MX$51.7
133.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.97$8.97
$4.51MX$79.1
98.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19$1.19
$1.43MX$25.12
-16.78%
White Bread(500g)
$5.71$5.71
$1.84MX$32.23
210.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$1.57MX$27.51
192.99%
Eggs
$4.53$4.53
$2.51MX$44.06
80.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23$12.23
$8.28MX$145
47.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.62$11.62
$8.43MX$148
37.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44$14.44
$10.68MX$187
35.21%
Apples(1kg)
$6.45$6.45
$2.61MX$45.76
147.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$1.44MX$25.22
29.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75$3.75
$1.96MX$34.41
91.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.45$5.45
$2.09MX$36.74
160.77%
Potato(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$1.85MX$32.47
75.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93$2.93
$2.17MX$38.02
35.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17$2.17
$1.03MX$18.09
110.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.07MX$18.84
96.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.38$9.38
$4.10MX$72.0
128.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.75$14.75
$10.17MX$178
45.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.68MX$29.38
0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71$4.71
$2.53MX$44.31
86.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.51MX$8.93
301.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08$4.08
$3.23MX$56.7
26.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69$2.69
$2.41MX$42.19
11.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.91$31.91
$3.23MX$56.6
887.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30$1.30
$1.32MX$23.17
-1.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K$28.7K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K$23.8K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
0.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199$199
$82.0MX$1,439
143.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.6$54.6
$22.95MX$403
137.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1$71.1
$30.11MX$528
136.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.81$39.81
$52.0MX$912
-23.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.12$14.12
$4.98MX$87.3
183.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,816$1,816
$197MX$3,463
819.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.7K$39.7K
$5,336MX$93.6K
644.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4$68.4
$35.60MX$624
92.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.68$19.68
$40.33MX$707
-51.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9$75.9
$78.8MX$1,381
-3.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155$155
$88.9MX$1,560
74.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,185$2,185
$947MX$16.6K
130.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,166$2,166
$474MX$8,314
356.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,245$4,245
$1,644MX$28.8K
158.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,818$3,818
$1,211MX$21.2K
215.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,416$6,416
$4,056MX$71.1K
58.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,739$5,739
$654MX$11.5K
777.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
11.42
-41.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Camarillo, CA: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,185 in Camarillo, CA and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Camarillo, CA pays 778% 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: $65.0 in Camarillo, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $249 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
Camarillo, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Camarillo, CA?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 185% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Camarillo, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 778% higher in Camarillo, CA, 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 Camarillo, CA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,185 in Camarillo, CA versus $947 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 Camarillo, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Camarillo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Camarillo, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $3,577 per month in Camarillo, CA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Camarillo, CA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,577 in Camarillo, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Camarillo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Camarillo, CA or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Camarillo, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Camarillo, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Camarillo, CA 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 185% less than in Camarillo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Camarillo, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared