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: $2,893 in Camden, NJ versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,193 in Camden, NJ versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,493 in Camden, NJ versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Camden, NJ is roughly 129% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Camden, NJ is 116% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$11.67 MX$202

73.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.0 $91.0

$41.88 MX$726

117.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.40 MX$180

15.19%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.61 MX$62.6

39.06%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.47 MX$25.45

86.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.91 MX$15.80

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.03 MX$52.6

98.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.47 MX$77.4

55.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.38 MX$23.83

-1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.84 MX$31.93

123.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$1.61 MX$27.82

422.98%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$2.57 MX$44.52

75.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.96 $14.96

$8.49 MX$147

76.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.67 $16.67

$8.49 MX$147

96.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.13 $20.13

$10.99 MX$190

83.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.00 $6.00

$2.73 MX$47.25

119.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.50 MX$25.92

44.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$1.96 MX$33.93

191.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$2.12 MX$36.70

157.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$1.86 MX$32.30

103.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.17 MX$37.67

28.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.07 MX$18.59

179.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.05 MX$18.18

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.90 $12.90

$4.19 MX$72.6

207.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.25 $17.25

$10.28 MX$178

67.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.67 MX$28.87

21.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.49 MX$43.12

71.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.54 MX$9.37

335.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.5 $58.5

$26.27 MX$455

122.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.10 MX$53.8

-5.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.46 MX$42.66

-38.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.10 $22.10

$3.24 MX$56.1

582.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.26 MX$21.83

-23.02%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

1.24%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

11.26%

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

$267 $267

$84.0 MX$1,456

218.24%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$22.21 MX$385

171.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$29.65 MX$514

152.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.51 $43.51

$52.6 MX$912

-17.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$4.95 MX$85.7

197.78%

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

$2,053 $2,053

$198 MX$3,438

934.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

337.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$35.95 MX$623

58.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.23 $41.23

$40.06 MX$694

2.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.2 $94.2

$78.8 MX$1,365

19.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$86.5 MX$1,499

65.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$977 MX$16.9K

61.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 $1,335

$471 MX$8,158

183.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 $2,674

$1,595 MX$27.6K

67.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,215 MX$21.1K

81.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 $2,662

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-33.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,401 $2,401

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-63.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,790 $4,790

$714 MX$12.4K

570.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.42

-43.61%

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

Last update for Camden, NJ: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Camden, NJ and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camden, NJ pays 571% 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: $91 in Camden, NJ vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $501 vs $252 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 129% in total monthly costs ($2,893 vs $1,261 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Camden, NJ pays 571% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Camden, NJ versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 123% less than in Camden, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,053 in Camden, NJ versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,893 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 129% less than in Camden, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.