Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, OH and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,409 in Cleveland, OH, rent and utilities included – about $14,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

116

Cost of Living Index in Cleveland, OH
Learn more

Cleveland, OH Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
Learn more

Playa del Carmen Living Index

Jump to prices

Cleveland, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,409

/mo nomad

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,204

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cleveland, OH 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 Cleveland, OH and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,409 per month in Cleveland, OH vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cleveland, OH $2,409
Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,602 per month in Cleveland, OH vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cleveland, OH $3,602
Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,794 per month in Cleveland, OH vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cleveland, OH $4,794
Playa del Carmen $2,959

Cleveland, OH costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Cleveland, OH sits 77% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.09 $18.09

$10.92 MX$203

65.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 $62.3

$43.37 MX$808

43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$11.78 MX$219

-6.20%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$3.81 MX$71.0

46.19%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$1.28 MX$23.89

107.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.78 MX$14.58

152.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$3.17 MX$59.0

92.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$4.93 MX$91.9

64.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.41 MX$26.20

-37.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.22 MX$41.30

47.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.42 MX$26.40

211.27%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.52 MX$47.00

76.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 $13.09

$7.26 MX$135

80.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.16 $12.16

$7.70 MX$143

57.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$12.69 MX$236

56.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.78 MX$51.9

83.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.37 MX$25.49

17.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$2.55 MX$47.52

63.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.12 MX$39.55

81.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.94 MX$36.11

54.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.89 MX$35.13

67.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.15 MX$21.36

89.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.18 MX$21.96

78.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$4.30 MX$80.0

136.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$9.95 MX$185

49.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.58 MX$29.50

52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.67 MX$49.76

38.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.55 MX$10.31

365.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.7 $93.7

$26.62 MX$496

252.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$4.97 MX$92.6

-44.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$3.33 MX$62.1

-52.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.45 $25.45

$5.36 MX$99.8

374.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.44 MX$26.90

-25.69%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$20.7K MX$385.0K

74.69%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.5K MX$437.2K

10.10%

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

$221 $221

$84.8 MX$1,580

161.19%

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

$65.4 $65.4

$23.41 MX$436

179.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$28.66 MX$534

154.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.34 $33.34

$57.1 MX$1,063

-41.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.01 $2.01

$28.91 MX$539

-93.05%

Cinema Ticket

$13.50 $13.50

$5.14 MX$95.7

162.65%

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

$1,007 $1,007

$207 MX$3,848

387.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K $18.4K

$3,927 MX$73.2K

368.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 $61.3

$43.35 MX$808

41.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.95 $38.95

$41.44 MX$772

-6.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 $99.0

$74.2 MX$1,382

33.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$89.3 MX$1,663

32.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$980 MX$18.2K

67.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 $1,015

$381 MX$7,095

166.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 $3,068

$1,708 MX$31.8K

79.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,825 $1,825

$1,075 MX$20.0K

69.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,969 $1,969

$3,943 MX$73.5K

-50.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,439 $1,439

$6,158 MX$114.7K

-76.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,644 $3,644

$735 MX$13.7K

396.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

11.45

-42.45%

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

Last update for Cleveland, OH: October 24, 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

Cleveland, OH

$1K 42.1%

Playa del Carmen

$381 31.6% 62.5% $634

Groceries & Markets

Cleveland, OH

$406 16.9%

Playa del Carmen

$255 21.2% 37.3% $152

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cleveland, OH

$360 14.9%

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.4% 62% $223

Eating Out

Cleveland, OH

$310 12.9%

Playa del Carmen

$202 16.8% 34.7% $108

Clothing & Footwear

Cleveland, OH

$143 5.9%

Playa del Carmen

$112 9.3% 21.9% $31

Getting Around

Cleveland, OH

$115 4.8%

Playa del Carmen

$50 4.2% 56% $64

Sport & Entertainment

Cleveland, OH

$60 2.5%

Playa del Carmen

$67 5.6% 11.5% $7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,637 in Cleveland, OH versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Cleveland, OH are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Cleveland, OH versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Cleveland, OH

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🕒 Local time

02:51 2:51 AM

01:51 1:51 AM

1 h behind Cleveland, OH

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

367,991

149,923

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

100 MXN = 5.37 USD

100 MXN = 4.82 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

MXN to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Cleveland, OH Playa del Carmen 2,380 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Cleveland, OH
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

Cleveland, OH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cleveland, OH is pricier by about 100%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,614 per month in Cleveland, OH and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,637 in Cleveland, OH.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Cleveland, OH and $43 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,409 in Cleveland, OH and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 50% cheaper.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Cleveland, OH at $2,409. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cleveland, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cleveland, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.