Cost of Living Comparison Between Clearwater, FL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Clearwater, FL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,928 in Clearwater, FL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,444 in Clearwater, FL versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,960 in Clearwater, FL versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Clearwater, FL is roughly 132% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Clearwater, FL is 120% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$11.72 MX$203

63.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$41.89 MX$725

75.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$10.51 MX$182

-4.19%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$3.59 MX$62.0

29.25%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$1.51 MX$26.10

50.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.92 MX$15.83

95.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.58 $4.58

$2.96 MX$51.2

54.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 $7.56

$4.41 MX$76.3

71.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.40 MX$24.16

-16.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$1.88 MX$32.60

93.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.56 MX$26.97

167.31%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.61 MX$45.14

74.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$8.32 MX$144

43.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$8.35 MX$145

49.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.49 $16.49

$10.86 MX$188

51.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$2.71 MX$46.93

128.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.51 MX$26.04

-5.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$1.87 MX$32.41

197.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.19 MX$37.89

142.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.86 MX$32.14

84.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.23 MX$38.59

72.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.07 MX$18.48

96.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.09 MX$18.79

159.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.96 $6.96

$4.19 MX$72.4

66.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.44 $16.44

$10.43 MX$180

57.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.66 MX$28.68

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.61 MX$45.19

42.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.54 MX$9.37

462.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.87 $32.87

$26.16 MX$453

25.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.08 MX$53.3

6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 $0.66

$2.40 MX$41.61

-72.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.4 $59.4

$3.13 MX$54.1

1798.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.31 MX$22.69

-35.88%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-2.50%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

6.67%

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

$257 $257

$81.3 MX$1,406

216.47%

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

$44.07 $44.07

$22.56 MX$390

95.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$30.05 MX$520

143.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.59 $38.59

$52.9 MX$915

-27.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.65 $24.65

$18.39 MX$318

34.04%

Cinema Ticket

$14.25 $14.25

$4.92 MX$85.1

189.63%

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

$426 $426

$201 MX$3,474

112.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,104 $7,104

$5,175 MX$89.5K

37.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.2 $65.2

$35.92 MX$622

81.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$40.13 MX$694

37.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$79.7 MX$1,379

26.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$166 $166

$86.5 MX$1,496

91.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,073 $2,073

$978 MX$16.9K

111.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$470 MX$8,140

235.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$1,651 MX$28.6K

120.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,948 $2,948

$1,203 MX$20.8K

144.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,941 $2,941

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-25.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-58.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,688 $3,688

$677 MX$11.7K

445.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

11.42

-42.29%

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

Last update for Clearwater, FL: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,073 in Clearwater, FL and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Clearwater, FL pays 445% 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: $74.0 in Clearwater, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $429 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

Clearwater, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 132% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 445% higher in Clearwater, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,073 in Clearwater, FL versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,928 per month in Clearwater, FL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 132% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 26% less than in Clearwater, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,928 in Clearwater, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Clearwater, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Clearwater, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Clearwater, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.