Cost of Living Comparison Between Clark Freeport and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Clark Freeport and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Clark Freeport versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Clark Freeport versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,478 in Clark Freeport versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Clark Freeport costs roughly 45% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Clark Freeport 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 ₱251

$13.02 MX$221

-68.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.15 ₱1,057

$46.25 MX$784

-62.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.12 ₱192

$12.59 MX$213

-75.22%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₱157

$4.00 MX$67.9

-36.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₱38.08

$1.42 MX$24.08

-56.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱22.30

$0.81 MX$13.73

-55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 ₱67.8

$3.05 MX$51.7

-63.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$6.82 MX$116

-74.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₱105

$1.71 MX$29.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.6

$2.22 MX$37.62

-46.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₱55.8

$1.72 MX$29.13

-47.09%

Eggs

$1.97 ₱121

$2.71 MX$45.99

-27.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.58 ₱344

$9.37 MX$159

-40.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 ₱256

$8.86 MX$150

-53.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 ₱385

$12.78 MX$217

-51.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ₱163

$3.13 MX$53.0

-15.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.55 MX$26.24

-3.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₱142

$2.15 MX$36.51

6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱74.6

$2.35 MX$39.89

-48.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 ₱129

$2.02 MX$34.23

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₱120

$1.99 MX$33.67

-2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₱48.50

$1.24 MX$21.09

-36.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.34

$1.19 MX$20.21

-59.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$4.65 MX$78.8

-36.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 ₱490

$10.47 MX$177

-24.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₱65.4

$1.58 MX$26.82

-32.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₱131

$2.92 MX$49.48

-27.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.58

$0.56 MX$9.53

-60.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.05 ₱620

$29.76 MX$504

-66.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$5.32 MX$90.2

-82.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.20

$3.72 MX$63.0

-93.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₱114

$5.78 MX$97.9

-67.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₱65.3

$1.55 MX$26.27

-31.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K ₱1.3M

$22.4K MX$379.1K

-2.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$25.6K MX$433.3K

-24.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 ₱7,666

$89.3 MX$1,513

39.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.15 ₱934

$23.30 MX$395

-34.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.33 ₱1,561

$31.72 MX$538

-20.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.03 ₱1,975

$68.8 MX$1,165

-53.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.79 ₱295

$29.40 MX$498

-83.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.42 ₱334

$5.06 MX$85.7

7.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$138 ₱8,481

$222 MX$3,765

-38.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,310 ₱512.3K

$4,293 MX$72.7K

93.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.59 ₱1,886

$46.21 MX$783

-33.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.54 ₱1,205

$44.43 MX$753

-56.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ₱4,264

$95.5 MX$1,618

-27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,449

$92.5 MX$1,568

-39.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.8K

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-74.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$393 MX$6,663

-54.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₱30.9K

$1,988 MX$33.7K

-74.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₱21.4K

$1,304 MX$22.1K

-73.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,437 ₱150.2K

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-39.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,077 ₱66.4K

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-83.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$320 ₱19.8K

$747 MX$12.7K

-57.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

11.6

-41.81%

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

Last update for Clark Freeport: August 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $272 in Clark Freeport and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 133% 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: $17.00 in Clark Freeport vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $277 per month, with Clark Freeport 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

Clark Freeport vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Clark Freeport and Playa del Carmen differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($733 vs $1,330 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $272 in Clark Freeport versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $733 per month in Clark Freeport versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $733 in Clark Freeport versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Clark Freeport but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Clark Freeport the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Clark Freeport 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.

Expats usually find Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.