Cost of Living Comparison Between Cary, NC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Cary, NC and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Cary, NC is 44.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 132.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Cary, NC is 76.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 97.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$11.99 MX$227
48.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$42.47 MX$803
135.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$10.47 MX$198
1.81%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$3.6 MX$68.2
38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.44 MX$27.16
39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.89 MX$16.79
112.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.09 MX$58.5
63.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$4.58 MX$86.6
45.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.38 MX$26.04
-18.84%
White Bread (500g)
$5.68 $5.68
$1.85 MX$34.9
207.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$1.57 MX$29.68
304.46%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$2.55 MX$48.3
81.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.29 $20.29
$8.61 MX$163
135.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$8.54 MX$161
44.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$10.98 MX$208
57.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$2.72 MX$51.4
104.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.51 MX$28.57
16.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$1.88 MX$35.63
125.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$2.19 MX$41.42
206.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.87 MX$35.3
35.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.19 MX$41.37
57.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.07 MX$20.23
161.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.09 MX$20.64
77.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$3.96 MX$74.9
147.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$8.86 MX$167
34.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.72 MX$32.53
38.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.61 MX$49.37
86.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.52 MX$9.74
251.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$26.59 MX$503
126.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.24 MX$61.2
5.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.38 MX$44.94
-33.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.98 $28.98
$3.11 MX$58.7
831.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.31 MX$24.85
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$30.3K MX$573K
-2.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$24K MX$453.6K
17.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$84.2 MX$1,592
104.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 $49.95
$22.14 MX$419
125.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$30.14 MX$570
108.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 $76.9
$52 MX$983
47.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$5.07 MX$95.9
169.03%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$200 MX$3,787
635.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
340.39%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.59 $47.59
$35.74 MX$676
33.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91 $31.91
$39.8 MX$753
-19.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$79 MX$1,493
60.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$88.4 MX$1,671
54.25%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$965 MX$18.3K
82.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$474 MX$8,968
240.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$1,653 MX$31.2K
57.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$1,202 MX$22.7K
123.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-6.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,659 $2,659
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-64.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cary, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,908 $5,908
$792 MX$15K
646.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
11.42
-44.75%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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