😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,890 in Centreville, VA versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,824 in Centreville, VA versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,758 in Centreville, VA versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Centreville, VA is roughly 209% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Centreville, VA is 191% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.96$23.96
$11.95MX$208
100.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119$119
$41.94MX$730
184.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.01$13.01
$10.42MX$181
24.86%
Cappuccino
$5.51$5.51
$3.51MX$61.2
56.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05$3.05
$1.52MX$26.39
100.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$0.91MX$15.84
184.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.34$6.34
$3.04MX$52.9
108.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95$7.95
$4.37MX$76.1
81.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.42MX$24.73
-11.97%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82$3.82
$1.83MX$31.87
108.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.93$6.93
$1.63MX$28.45
325.15%
Eggs
$4.02$4.02
$2.54MX$44.20
58.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57$19.57
$8.57MX$149
128.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.05$15.05
$8.49MX$148
77.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.72$23.72
$10.80MX$188
119.63%
Apples(1kg)
$7.64$7.64
$2.75MX$47.94
177.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78$1.78
$1.44MX$25.00
23.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.12$8.12
$1.89MX$32.83
329.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.12$11.12
$2.17MX$37.77
412.44%
Potato(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$1.78MX$30.97
174.16%
Onion(1kg)
$3.65$3.65
$2.22MX$38.71
64.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.42$3.42
$1.07MX$18.60
219.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$1.08MX$18.79
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16$11.16
$4.15MX$72.2
168.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.23$18.23
$10.45MX$182
74.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.74MX$30.34
1.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69$3.69
$2.58MX$44.92
43.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.61$4.61
$0.51MX$8.94
803.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$197$197
$25.94MX$451
658.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88$2.88
$3.21MX$55.9
-10.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34$1.34
$2.50MX$43.55
-46.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.17$25.17
$3.19MX$55.4
689.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.26MX$21.87
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K$31.3K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
5.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218$218
$82.0MX$1,427
166.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.8$52.8
$22.73MX$395
132.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8$71.8
$29.42MX$512
144.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$99.3$99.3
$52.2MX$908
90.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.6$50.6
$18.45MX$321
174.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.04$15.04
$4.93MX$85.9
205.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,945$1,945
$202MX$3,511
863.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$36.5K$36.5K
$5,217MX$90.8K
599.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1$56.1
$35.93MX$625
56.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1$54.1
$40.33MX$702
34.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116$116
$79.9MX$1,390
45.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122$122
$89.3MX$1,554
36.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794$2,794
$948MX$16.5K
194.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,169$2,169
$465MX$8,097
366.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,618$4,618
$1,630MX$28.4K
183.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,695$3,695
$1,193MX$20.8K
209.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,709$3,709
$3,933MX$68.4K
-5.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,989$2,989
$6,428MX$111.9K
-53.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,461$5,461
$658MX$11.5K
729.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
11.42
-42.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centreville, VA: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,794 in Centreville, VA and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centreville, VA pays 730% 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: $119 in Centreville, VA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $564 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
Centreville, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Centreville, VA or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 209% lower than in Centreville, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Centreville, VA or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 730% higher in Centreville, VA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Centreville, VA compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,794 in Centreville, VA versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Centreville, VA or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 123% higher in Centreville, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Centreville, VA and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $119 in Centreville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Centreville, VA or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,890 in Centreville, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Centreville, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Centreville, VA or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Centreville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Centreville, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared