Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Clarksville, TN and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,345 in Clarksville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Clarksville, TN, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Clarksville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,345
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Clarksville, TN and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Clarksville, TN and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,345 in Clarksville, TN versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Clarksville, TN $2,345
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,357 in Clarksville, TN versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Clarksville, TN $3,357
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,370 in Clarksville, TN versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Clarksville, TN $4,370
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Clarksville, TN is roughly 95% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Clarksville, TN is 72% above, Playa del Carmen is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$10.92 MX$204
83.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.7 $83.7
$43.37 MX$808
92.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 $11.18
$11.78 MX$220
-5.09%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$3.81 MX$71.0
39.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.28 MX$23.90
89.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.78 MX$14.59
139.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.17 MX$59.0
59.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.71 $7.71
$4.93 MX$92.0
56.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.41 MX$26.22
-30.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.22 MX$41.33
22.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$1.42 MX$26.42
173.94%
Eggs
$3.30 $3.30
$2.52 MX$47.03
30.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 $13.88
$7.26 MX$135
91.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$7.70 MX$143
91.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 $13.39
$12.69 MX$237
5.52%
Apples (1kg)
$6.68 $6.68
$2.78 MX$51.9
140.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.37 MX$25.50
21.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.55 MX$47.55
70.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.12 MX$39.58
94.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.94 MX$36.13
9.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$1.89 MX$35.16
99.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.15 MX$21.37
125.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.18 MX$21.98
133.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.13 $9.13
$4.30 MX$80.1
112.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.29 $12.29
$9.95 MX$185
23.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.58 MX$29.52
12.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.67 MX$49.79
23.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.55 MX$10.31
165.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.98 $49.98
$26.62 MX$496
87.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.97 MX$92.6
0.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$3.33 MX$62.1
-40.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.48 $30.48
$5.36 MX$99.8
468.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.44 MX$26.92
-34.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
32.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
13.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$84.8 MX$1,581
86.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.1 $82.1
$23.41 MX$436
250.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 $75.7
$28.66 MX$534
163.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.74 $23.74
$57.1 MX$1,063
-58.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.04 $4.04
$28.91 MX$539
-86.03%
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$5.14 MX$95.8
173.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$841 $841
$207 MX$3,851
306.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
541.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.86 $40.86
$43.35 MX$808
-5.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.36 $38.36
$41.44 MX$772
-7.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 $96.6
$74.2 MX$1,383
30.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$89.3 MX$1,664
34.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 $1,112
$980 MX$18.3K
13.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 $1,058
$381 MX$7,099
177.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,754 $1,754
$1,708 MX$31.8K
2.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 $1,446
$1,075 MX$20.0K
34.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,296 $2,296
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-41.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,776 $1,776
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-71.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Clarksville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,770 $3,770
$735 MX$13.7K
413.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
11.45
-42.18%

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

Last update for Clarksville, TN: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Clarksville, TN
$1.1K
Playa del Carmen
$381 64% $677
Groceries & Markets
Clarksville, TN
$400
Playa del Carmen
$255 36.3% $145
Eating Out
Clarksville, TN
$315
Playa del Carmen
$202 35.8% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clarksville, TN
$315
Playa del Carmen
$137 56.6% $179
Clothing & Footwear
Clarksville, TN
$133
Playa del Carmen
$112 16% $21
Getting Around
Clarksville, TN
$71
Playa del Carmen
$50 28.7% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Clarksville, TN
$52
Playa del Carmen
$67 29.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,112 in Clarksville, TN and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Clarksville, TN pays about 5.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $84 in Clarksville, TN vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Clarksville, TN
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
13:50 1:50 PM
13:50 1:50 PM
Same time as Clarksville, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
180,716
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Clarksville, TN Playa del Carmen 1,770 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Clarksville, TN
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Clarksville, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Clarksville, TN and in Playa del Carmen?
Clarksville, TN and Playa del Carmen differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($2,345 vs $1,204 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Clarksville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Clarksville, TN is about 5.1 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Clarksville, TN and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,112 in Clarksville, TN versus $980 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 57% higher in Clarksville, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43 versus $84 in Clarksville, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,345 in Clarksville, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Clarksville, TN. 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 Clarksville, TN 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: Clarksville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Clarksville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Clarksville, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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