😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,933 in Centreville, VA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,809 in Centreville, VA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,685 in Centreville, VA versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Centreville, VA is roughly 204% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Centreville, VA is 186% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.71$23.71
$11.71MX$198
102.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105$105
$46.59MX$786
125.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.97$11.97
$11.65MX$197
2.75%
Cappuccino
$5.81$5.81
$4.09MX$69.1
42.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04$3.04
$1.37MX$23.20
121.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$0.83MX$14.07
196.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.48$6.48
$3.35MX$56.6
93.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.78$8.78
$6.91MX$117
27.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.73MX$29.15
-27.75%
White Bread(500g)
$4.52$4.52
$2.26MX$38.15
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.33$6.33
$1.77MX$29.86
257.63%
Eggs
$5.24$5.24
$2.73MX$46.12
91.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.97$21.97
$9.18MX$155
139.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.13$18.13
$8.92MX$151
103.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.27$23.27
$12.60MX$213
84.68%
Apples(1kg)
$7.79$7.79
$3.02MX$51.0
157.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91$1.91
$1.57MX$26.51
21.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.23$7.23
$2.13MX$35.88
239.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.78$5.78
$2.26MX$38.22
155.75%
Potato(1kg)
$3.26$3.26
$2.00MX$33.82
63.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.88$3.88
$2.06MX$34.85
88.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.53$3.53
$1.18MX$19.91
199.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.12$3.12
$1.20MX$20.32
160.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.63$10.63
$4.63MX$78.2
129.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.72$17.72
$10.69MX$180
65.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.62MX$27.33
9.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69$3.69
$2.88MX$48.63
28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.39$4.39
$0.57MX$9.68
670.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$204$204
$29.83MX$503
582.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.05$4.05
$5.45MX$91.9
-25.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21$1.21
$3.70MX$62.5
-67.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.45$25.45
$5.98MX$101
325.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.55MX$26.22
-37.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K$34.4K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
53.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
-1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214$214
$89.1MX$1,504
140.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$25.04MX$423
109.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.0$79.0
$31.50MX$532
150.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$101$101
$67.8MX$1,144
49.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.57$49.57
$28.92MX$488
71.40%
Cinema Ticket
$16.68$16.68
$5.05MX$85.2
230.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,971$1,971
$225MX$3,797
776.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.7K$35.7K
$4,222MX$71.3K
746.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4$54.4
$47.44MX$801
14.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2$62.2
$44.98MX$759
38.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122$122
$82.0MX$1,384
48.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166$166
$92.1MX$1,555
80.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,773$2,773
$1,069MX$18.0K
159.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,134$2,134
$405MX$6,842
426.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,912$3,912
$1,935MX$32.7K
102.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,415$3,415
$1,301MX$22.0K
162.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,816$3,816
$3,995MX$67.4K
-4.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,991$2,991
$6,626MX$111.8K
-54.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centreville, VA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,553$5,553
$749MX$12.6K
641.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.11
11.45
-46.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centreville, VA: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,773 in Centreville, VA and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centreville, VA pays 642% 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: $105 in Centreville, VA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $559 vs $277 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 204% 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 642% 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: $2,773 in Centreville, VA versus $1,069 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 102% 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 $47.00 versus $105 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,933 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 $1,293 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 204% 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