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 $2,724 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,994 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,264 per month in Clifton, NJ vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Clifton, NJ costs about 111% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Clifton, NJ sits 98% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.90 $22.90

$11.71 MX$198

95.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$46.59 MX$786

70.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.06 $13.06

$11.65 MX$197

12.10%

Cappuccino

$6.28 $6.28

$4.09 MX$69.1

53.55%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$1.37 MX$23.20

85.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.83 MX$14.07

106.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$3.35 MX$56.6

142.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$6.91 MX$117

3.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.73 MX$29.15

-23.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.26 MX$38.15

104.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$1.77 MX$29.86

243.50%

Eggs

$5.84 $5.84

$2.73 MX$46.12

113.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.18 MX$155

50.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.15 $10.15

$8.92 MX$151

13.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.75 $17.75

$12.60 MX$213

40.87%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.02 MX$51.0

104.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.57 MX$26.51

42.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.13 MX$35.88

162.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.41 $5.41

$2.26 MX$38.22

139.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.00 MX$33.82

78.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$2.06 MX$34.85

100.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.18 MX$19.91

151.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.20 MX$20.32

113.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.77 $17.77

$4.63 MX$78.2

283.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$10.69 MX$180

40.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.62 MX$27.33

14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.88 MX$48.63

23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.30 $4.30

$0.57 MX$9.68

654.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$5.45 MX$91.9

-45.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.70 MX$62.5

-42.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.48 $42.48

$5.98 MX$101

610.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.55 MX$26.22

-29.68%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$22.3K MX$376.8K

60.54%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.9K MX$438.0K

-4.13%

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

$204 $204

$89.1 MX$1,504

128.94%

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

$51.5 $51.5

$25.04 MX$423

105.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$31.50 MX$532

110.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.35 $29.35

$67.8 MX$1,144

-56.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$20.42 $20.42

$5.05 MX$85.2

304.36%

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

$1,755 $1,755

$225 MX$3,797

680.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$4,222 MX$71.3K

273.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.18 $31.18

$47.44 MX$801

-34.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.92 $19.92

$44.98 MX$759

-55.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$82.0 MX$1,384

33.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$92.1 MX$1,555

37.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$1,069 MX$18.0K

26.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$405 MX$6,842

239.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,813 $2,813

$1,935 MX$32.7K

45.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,208 $2,208

$1,301 MX$22.0K

69.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,552 $8,552

$3,995 MX$67.4K

114.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,234 $4,234

$749 MX$12.6K

465.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

11.45

-44.98%

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

Last update for Clifton, NJ: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,348 in Clifton, NJ versus $1,069 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 465% 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 $79.0 in Clifton, NJ versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $454 vs $277 – 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: $2,724 in Clifton, NJ, $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 111% apart. Clifton, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,085 per month in Clifton, NJ and $1,940 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 $2,724 in Clifton, NJ and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,755 per month in Clifton, NJ and $225 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 $1,293, than in Clifton, NJ at $2,724. 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen to $2,724 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.