Cost of Living Comparison Between Centennial, CO and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Centennial, CO and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,213 per month in Centennial, CO vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,415 per month in Centennial, CO vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,618 per month in Centennial, CO vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Centennial, CO costs about 154% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Centennial, CO sits 135% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$11.60 MX$199
75.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9 $87.9
$47.11 MX$809
86.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 $11.98
$11.88 MX$204
0.84%
Cappuccino
$5.99 $5.99
$3.98 MX$68.2
50.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.43 MX$24.49
99.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.82 MX$14.16
162.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.82 $6.82
$3.19 MX$54.7
113.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$6.79 MX$117
17.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.68 MX$28.76
-34.52%
White Bread (500g)
$4.69 $4.69
$2.20 MX$37.71
113.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.73 $6.73
$1.71 MX$29.32
293.57%
Eggs
$5.12 $5.12
$2.74 MX$47.05
86.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.42 $13.42
$9.58 MX$164
40.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.16 $13.16
$9.01 MX$155
46.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.22 $20.22
$12.81 MX$220
57.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.89 MX$49.58
80.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.50 MX$25.70
34.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$2.15 MX$36.87
132.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.26 MX$38.79
134.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.98 MX$34.00
79.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.99 MX$34.15
38.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.23 MX$21.18
83.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.20 MX$20.54
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.47 $10.47
$4.55 MX$78.1
130.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.77 $19.77
$10.37 MX$178
90.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.62 MX$27.79
60.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.88 MX$49.44
-5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.42 $5.42
$0.60 MX$10.30
803.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.8 $86.8
$28.80 MX$494
201.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$5.39 MX$92.5
-33.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$3.73 MX$64.0
-52.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.81 $19.81
$5.77 MX$99.0
243.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.54 MX$26.37
-33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K $35.6K
$22.5K MX$387.0K
57.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.1K MX$447.3K
-3.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 $212
$91.4 MX$1,569
131.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$25.20 MX$433
140.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$31.24 MX$536
124.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 $61.3
$67.2 MX$1,154
-8.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.77 $19.77
$29.11 MX$500
-32.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$4.86 MX$83.5
209.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$224 MX$3,839
489.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K $20.0K
$4,229 MX$72.6K
373.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 $59.9
$47.10 MX$808
27.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.18 $46.18
$44.29 MX$760
4.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$80.1 MX$1,375
34.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$92.7 MX$1,591
43.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,852 $1,852
$1,063 MX$18.2K
74.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,656 $1,656
$390 MX$6,698
324.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,863 $2,863
$2,149 MX$36.9K
33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,224 $2,224
$1,272 MX$21.8K
74.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,114 $3,114
$4,001 MX$68.7K
-22.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,868 $2,868
$6,502 MX$111.6K
-55.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centennial, CO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,863 $6,863
$758 MX$13.0K
805.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.08
11.45
-46.90%

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

Last update for Centennial, CO: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,852 in Centennial, CO versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 805% higher in Centennial, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Centennial, CO versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Centennial, CO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Centennial, CO and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,213 in Centennial, CO, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 154% apart. Centennial, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Centennial, CO compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,820 per month in Centennial, CO and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Centennial, CO and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Centennial, CO and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Centennial, CO or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,213 in Centennial, CO and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Centennial, CO at $3,213. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Centennial, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Centennial, CO and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $3,213 in Centennial, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Centennial, CO or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Centennial, CO and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Centennial, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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