Cost of Living Comparison Between Coeur d'Alene, ID and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Coeur d'Alene, ID and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,661 in Coeur d'Alene, ID versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,850 in Coeur d'Alene, ID versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,040 in Coeur d'Alene, ID versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Coeur d'Alene, ID is roughly 112% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Coeur d'Alene, ID is 99% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$11.99 MX$210

67.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.1 $64.1

$41.78 MX$733

53.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.75 MX$189

11.81%

Cappuccino

$4.43 $4.43

$3.50 MX$61.3

26.57%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$1.45 MX$25.41

59.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.88 MX$15.52

122.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.95 MX$51.7

103.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.51 MX$79.1

29.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.43 MX$25.12

-28.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.84 MX$32.23

65.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.57 MX$27.51

217.20%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$2.51 MX$44.06

84.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.55 $15.55

$8.28 MX$145

87.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.43 MX$148

74.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 $16.13

$10.68 MX$187

51.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.61 MX$45.76

76.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.44 MX$25.22

13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$1.96 MX$34.41

160.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.09 MX$36.74

166.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.85 MX$32.47

51.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.17 MX$38.02

19.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.03 MX$18.09

89.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.07 MX$18.84

93.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.50 $8.50

$4.10 MX$72.0

107.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 $18.96

$10.17 MX$178

86.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.68 MX$29.38

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.53 MX$44.31

-32.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.51 MX$8.93

290.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.23 MX$56.7

56.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.41 MX$42.19

-25.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.64 $40.64

$3.23 MX$56.6

1158.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.32 MX$23.17

-32.58%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-8.43%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

9.32%

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

$162 $162

$82.0 MX$1,439

97.27%

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

$56.6 $56.6

$22.95 MX$403

146.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$30.11 MX$528

143.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 $61.0

$52.0 MX$912

17.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$4.98 MX$87.3

182.53%

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

$1,455 $1,455

$197 MX$3,463

636.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

198.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$35.60 MX$624

42.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.44 $49.44

$40.33 MX$707

22.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 $80.9

$78.8 MX$1,381

2.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 $93.6

$88.9 MX$1,560

5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,741 $1,741

$947 MX$16.6K

83.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$474 MX$8,314

204.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,510 $2,510

$1,644 MX$28.8K

52.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,189 $2,189

$1,211 MX$21.2K

80.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,136 $4,136

$4,056 MX$71.1K

1.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,765 $3,765

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-41.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,681 $3,681

$654 MX$11.5K

462.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

11.42

-44.83%

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

Last update for Coeur d'Alene, ID: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,741 in Coeur d'Alene, ID and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coeur d'Alene, ID pays 463% 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: $64.0 in Coeur d'Alene, ID vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $249 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

Coeur d'Alene, ID vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coeur d'Alene, ID and Playa del Carmen differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($2,661 vs $1,256 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 463% higher in Coeur d'Alene, ID, 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: $1,741 in Coeur d'Alene, ID versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Coeur d'Alene, ID. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,661 per month in Coeur d'Alene, ID versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,661 in Coeur d'Alene, ID, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Coeur d'Alene, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.