Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Camden, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,598 in Camden, NJ versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,851 in Camden, NJ versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,104 in Camden, NJ versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 101% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 89% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$11.71 MX$198

70.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 $80.6

$46.59 MX$786

72.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.76 $11.76

$11.65 MX$197

0.94%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$4.09 MX$69.1

30.32%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$1.37 MX$23.20

83.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.83 MX$14.07

136.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$3.35 MX$56.6

83.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$6.91 MX$117

18.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.73 MX$29.15

-15.03%

White Bread (500g)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.26 MX$38.15

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$1.77 MX$29.86

314.12%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$2.73 MX$46.12

84.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.05 $12.05

$9.18 MX$155

31.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$8.92 MX$151

45.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.11 $18.11

$12.60 MX$213

43.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.02 MX$51.0

88.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.57 MX$26.51

7.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.13 MX$35.88

138.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$2.26 MX$38.22

130.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.00 MX$33.82

39.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.06 MX$34.85

55.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.18 MX$19.91

100.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.20 MX$20.32

105.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.75 $12.75

$4.63 MX$78.2

175.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.93 $14.93

$10.69 MX$180

39.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.62 MX$27.33

48.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.88 MX$48.63

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.57 MX$9.68

275.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$5.45 MX$91.9

-49.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$3.70 MX$62.5

-57.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.35 $24.35

$5.98 MX$101

307.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.55 MX$26.22

-25.81%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$22.3K MX$376.8K

57.75%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.9K MX$438.0K

-2.22%

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

$217 $217

$89.1 MX$1,504

143.78%

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

$55.2 $55.2

$25.04 MX$423

120.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$31.50 MX$532

95.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.04 $39.04

$67.8 MX$1,144

-42.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$5.05 MX$85.2

198.02%

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

$2,187 $2,187

$225 MX$3,797

872.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.7K $34.7K

$4,222 MX$71.3K

721.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.26 $49.26

$47.44 MX$801

3.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.15 $47.15

$44.98 MX$759

4.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$82.0 MX$1,384

22.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$92.1 MX$1,555

31.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,069 MX$18.0K

26.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,392 $1,392

$405 MX$6,842

243.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,262 $2,262

$1,935 MX$32.7K

16.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 $1,999

$1,301 MX$22.0K

53.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,921 $2,921

$3,995 MX$67.4K

-26.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$6,626 MX$111.8K

-64.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.16

11.45

-46.20%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,355 in Camden, NJ and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $81.0 in Camden, NJ vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $277 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

Camden, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Camden, NJ and Playa del Carmen differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,598 vs $1,293 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,897 in Camden, NJ and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,355 in Camden, NJ versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Camden, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,598 per month in Camden, NJ versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,598 in Camden, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Camden, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Camden, NJ 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.