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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,544 in Camarillo, CA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,189 in Camarillo, CA versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,834 in Camarillo, CA versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Camarillo, CA is roughly 173% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camarillo, CA is 164% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15 $25.15
$11.73 MX$203
114.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1 $66.1
$41.62 MX$720
58.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 $9.81
$10.64 MX$184
-7.80%
Cappuccino
$5.68 $5.68
$3.52 MX$60.9
61.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.51 MX$26.12
80.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$0.97 MX$16.84
113.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.79 $6.79
$2.95 MX$51.0
130.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.59 $8.59
$4.45 MX$77.0
93.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.38 MX$23.93
-9.42%
White Bread (500g)
$5.67 $5.67
$1.89 MX$32.72
200.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$1.64 MX$28.32
184.76%
Eggs
$4.44 $4.44
$2.51 MX$43.34
76.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 $12.59
$8.34 MX$144
50.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$8.34 MX$144
39.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.52 $14.52
$10.73 MX$186
35.32%
Apples (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$2.60 MX$45.04
139.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.46 MX$25.20
32.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$1.90 MX$32.87
100.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.08 MX$35.91
155.29%
Potato (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.78 MX$30.71
79.78%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.19 MX$37.80
41.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.04 MX$17.99
98.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.08 MX$18.62
93.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62 $9.62
$4.08 MX$70.6
135.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$10.32 MX$178
45.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.71 MX$29.61
2.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 $4.56
$2.58 MX$44.54
76.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.51 MX$8.81
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 $4.07
$3.26 MX$56.4
24.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.49 MX$43.09
12.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.18 $32.18
$3.25 MX$56.2
890.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.31 MX$22.61
-1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K $28.6K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K $24.0K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$82.9 MX$1,433
146.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$22.22 MX$384
146.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.7 $73.7
$29.34 MX$507
151.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.10 $40.10
$51.6 MX$893
-22.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.95 $13.95
$5.07 MX$87.6
175.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,823 $1,823
$201 MX$3,473
807.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.6K $40.6K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
679.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$36.92 MX$639
83.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.92 $19.92
$39.79 MX$688
-49.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 $77.5
$78.5 MX$1,357
-1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 $156
$87.1 MX$1,506
79.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,239 $2,239
$973 MX$16.8K
130.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,212 $2,212
$468 MX$8,090
372.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,184 $4,184
$1,641 MX$28.4K
154.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,729 $3,729
$1,221 MX$21.1K
205.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,478 $6,478
$3,946 MX$68.3K
64.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camarillo, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,642 $5,642
$664 MX$11.5K
749.76%
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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,239 in Camarillo, CA and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camarillo, CA pays 750% 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: $66.0 in Camarillo, CA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 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 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Camarillo, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Camarillo, CA pays 750% 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 Camarillo, CA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,239 in Camarillo, CA versus $973 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 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $3,544 per month in Camarillo, CA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Camarillo, CA or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,544 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 173% less than in Camarillo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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