😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,403 in Castle Rock, CO versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,523 in Castle Rock, CO versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,644 in Castle Rock, CO versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Castle Rock, CO is roughly 87% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Castle Rock, CO is 79% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.98$14.98
$11.94MX$209
25.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.3$73.3
$42.75MX$748
71.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.61$7.61
$10.59MX$185
-28.14%
Cappuccino
$4.71$4.71
$3.62MX$63.4
30.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.47MX$25.69
38.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$0.94MX$16.51
96.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90$4.90
$3.09MX$54.1
58.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89$4.89
$4.46MX$78.0
9.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.43MX$24.94
-29.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12$3.12
$1.88MX$32.97
65.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$1.63MX$28.50
98.16%
Eggs
$4.17$4.17
$2.64MX$46.26
57.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16$11.16
$8.21MX$144
35.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35$8.35
$8.29MX$145
0.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.85$16.85
$11.10MX$194
51.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.90$3.90
$2.65MX$46.40
47.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45$1.45
$1.50MX$26.26
-3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73$3.73
$1.99MX$34.79
87.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$2.08MX$36.33
137.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29$2.29
$1.79MX$31.29
27.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$2.18MX$38.09
-10.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26$1.26
$1.08MX$18.84
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$1.04MX$18.15
86.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.98$12.98
$3.97MX$69.5
226.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.81$11.81
$10.20MX$179
15.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$1.73MX$30.22
26.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$2.50MX$43.71
12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.52MX$9.07
292.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.45$2.45
$3.14MX$55.0
-21.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36$1.36
$2.40MX$42.04
-43.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.19$25.19
$3.09MX$54.0
715.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.27MX$22.28
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K$28.1K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-8.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
11.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164$164
$82.0MX$1,435
100.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.44$39.44
$22.45MX$393
75.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.90$44.90
$29.66MX$519
51.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.4$59.4
$51.9MX$908
14.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.48$8.48
$4.97MX$87.0
70.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,511$1,511
$198MX$3,462
663.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K$18.3K
$5,273MX$92.3K
247.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.68$47.68
$36.34MX$636
31.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.03$49.03
$40.05MX$701
22.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.8$66.8
$79.9MX$1,398
-16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108$108
$88.9MX$1,555
20.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,727$1,727
$963MX$16.9K
79.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,352$1,352
$465MX$8,133
190.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,786$2,786
$1,596MX$27.9K
74.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,214$2,214
$1,209MX$21.2K
83.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castle Rock, CO
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,995$5,995
$720MX$12.6K
732.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Castle Rock, CO: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,727 in Castle Rock, CO and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castle Rock, CO pays 732% 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: $73.0 in Castle Rock, CO vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Castle Rock, CO vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Castle Rock, CO and Playa del Carmen?
Castle Rock, CO and Playa del Carmen differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,403 vs $1,287 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Castle Rock, CO or Playa del Carmen?
Castle Rock, CO pays 732% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Castle Rock, CO and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,727 in Castle Rock, CO versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Castle Rock, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Castle Rock, CO or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,403 per month in Castle Rock, CO versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,403 in Castle Rock, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Castle Rock, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Castle Rock, CO and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Is Castle Rock, CO or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Castle Rock, CO 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.
Where should expats move: Castle Rock, CO or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Castle Rock, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Castle Rock, CO vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado