😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in Chesterfield, MO versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,313 in Chesterfield, MO versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,220 in Chesterfield, MO versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Chesterfield, MO is roughly 87% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Chesterfield, MO is 80% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.96$14.96
$11.94MX$209
25.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5$50.5
$42.75MX$748
18.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.64$8.64
$10.59MX$185
-18.41%
Cappuccino
$4.12$4.12
$3.62MX$63.4
13.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$1.47MX$25.69
49.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27$1.27
$0.94MX$16.51
35.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.96$3.96
$3.09MX$54.1
28.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10$6.10
$4.46MX$78.0
36.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.43MX$24.94
-32.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86$2.86
$1.88MX$32.97
52.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10$2.10
$1.63MX$28.50
28.83%
Eggs
$3.28$3.28
$2.64MX$46.26
24.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.46$9.46
$8.21MX$144
15.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.16$9.16
$8.29MX$145
10.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65$12.65
$11.10MX$194
13.96%
Apples(1kg)
$4.37$4.37
$2.65MX$46.40
64.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23$1.23
$1.50MX$26.26
-18.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.19$3.19
$1.99MX$34.79
60.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10$4.10
$2.08MX$36.33
97.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.79MX$31.29
-7.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$2.18MX$38.09
16.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91$1.91
$1.08MX$18.84
76.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.04MX$18.15
72.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88$6.88
$3.97MX$69.5
73.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.78$11.78
$10.20MX$179
15.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.73MX$30.22
0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62$1.62
$2.50MX$43.71
-35.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.52MX$9.07
278.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.98$2.98
$3.14MX$55.0
-5.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52$1.52
$2.40MX$42.04
-36.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.33$36.33
$3.09MX$54.0
1075.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.27MX$22.28
-36.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-22.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K$22.7K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-2.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232$232
$82.0MX$1,435
182.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3$68.3
$22.45MX$393
204.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8$71.8
$29.66MX$519
141.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.34$43.34
$51.9MX$908
-16.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.87$9.87
$4.97MX$87.0
98.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$779$779
$198MX$3,462
293.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$5,273MX$92.3K
349.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6$52.6
$36.34MX$636
44.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31$30.31
$40.05MX$701
-24.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.03$40.03
$79.9MX$1,398
-49.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0$57.0
$88.9MX$1,555
-35.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,765$1,765
$963MX$16.9K
83.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,294$1,294
$465MX$8,133
178.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,204$3,204
$1,596MX$27.9K
100.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,889$1,889
$1,209MX$21.2K
56.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,013$2,013
$3,942MX$69.0K
-48.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,968$1,968
$6,448MX$112.8K
-69.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chesterfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.65
11.42
-41.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chesterfield, MO: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,765 in Chesterfield, MO and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Chesterfield, MO vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $251 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
Chesterfield, MO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chesterfield, MO and Playa del Carmen?
Chesterfield, MO and Playa del Carmen differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,405 vs $1,287 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Chesterfield, MO compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,607 in Chesterfield, MO and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Chesterfield, MO and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,765 in Chesterfield, MO 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 23% higher in Chesterfield, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chesterfield, MO or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,405 per month in Chesterfield, MO 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 $2,405 in Chesterfield, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Chesterfield, MO. 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 Chesterfield, MO 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.
Where should expats move: Chesterfield, MO or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Chesterfield, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chesterfield, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared