Cost of Living Comparison Between Clifton, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Clifton, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,947 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,110 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,272 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Clifton, NJ costs about 127% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Clifton, NJ sits 120% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$11.73 MX$203

71.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$41.62 MX$720

141.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$10.64 MX$184

11.75%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$3.52 MX$60.9

72.73%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$1.51 MX$26.12

56.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.97 MX$16.84

64.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$2.95 MX$51.0

132.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$4.45 MX$77.0

52.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.38 MX$23.93

-5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.89 MX$32.72

129.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$1.64 MX$28.32

251.83%

Eggs

$6.47 $6.47

$2.51 MX$43.34

157.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$8.34 MX$144

55.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 $10.25

$8.34 MX$144

22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.64 $19.64

$10.73 MX$186

83.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$2.60 MX$45.04

115.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.46 MX$25.20

71.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.90 MX$32.87

128.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.08 MX$35.91

137.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.78 MX$30.71

70.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.19 MX$37.80

19.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.04 MX$17.99

166.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.08 MX$18.62

138.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.26 $17.26

$4.08 MX$70.6

323.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$10.32 MX$178

46.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.71 MX$29.61

7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.58 MX$44.54

47.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.51 MX$8.81

427.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.26 MX$56.4

-10.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.49 MX$43.09

-10.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.68 $42.68

$3.25 MX$56.2

1213.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.31 MX$22.61

-27.48%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

5.33%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

9.94%

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

$211 $211

$82.9 MX$1,433

155.05%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$22.22 MX$384

140.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$29.34 MX$507

114.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.60 $20.60

$51.6 MX$893

-60.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$20.26 $20.26

$5.07 MX$87.6

299.61%

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

$1,726 $1,726

$201 MX$3,473

759.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

207.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 $50.6

$36.92 MX$639

37.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.09 $20.09

$39.79 MX$688

-49.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 $91.1

$78.5 MX$1,357

16.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$87.1 MX$1,506

97.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,717 $1,717

$973 MX$16.8K

76.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,679 $1,679

$468 MX$8,090

259.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$1,641 MX$28.4K

61.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,221 MX$21.1K

78.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,242 $4,242

$664 MX$11.5K

538.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.42

-43.61%

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

Last update for Clifton, NJ: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,717 in Clifton, NJ versus $973 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 run about 539% higher in Clifton, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Clifton, NJ versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $443 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Clifton, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,947 in Clifton, NJ, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 127% apart. Clifton, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,420 per month in Clifton, NJ and $1,945 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,947 in Clifton, NJ and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,726 per month in Clifton, NJ and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Clifton, NJ at $2,947. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Clifton, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $2,947 in Clifton, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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