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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,464 per month in Columbus, OH vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Columbus, OH vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,898 per month in Columbus, OH vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Columbus, OH costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Columbus, OH sits 79% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.84 $21.84

$11.71 MX$198

86.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$46.59 MX$787

63.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$11.65 MX$197

-6.44%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$4.09 MX$69.2

31.78%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.37 MX$23.23

84.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$0.83 MX$14.09

150.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 $5.95

$3.35 MX$56.7

77.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.37 $7.37

$6.91 MX$117

6.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.73 MX$29.19

-50.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.26 MX$38.20

36.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$1.77 MX$29.90

200.56%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$2.73 MX$46.18

38.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.06 $14.06

$9.18 MX$155

53.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.83 $14.83

$8.92 MX$151

66.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.98 $15.98

$12.60 MX$213

26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$3.02 MX$51.1

117.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.57 MX$26.54

10.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.13 MX$35.92

187.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.26 MX$38.27

106.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.00 MX$33.87

47.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.06 MX$34.89

67.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.18 MX$19.94

93.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.20 MX$20.35

95.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$4.63 MX$78.3

111.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.13 $16.13

$10.69 MX$181

50.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.62 MX$27.37

30.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.88 MX$48.69

9.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.57 MX$9.69

256.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 $60.9

$29.83 MX$504

104.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$5.45 MX$92.1

-46.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$3.70 MX$62.6

-66.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.29 $27.29

$5.98 MX$101

356.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.55 MX$26.25

-38.06%

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

$36.7K $36.7K

$22.3K MX$377.3K

64.26%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.9K MX$438.5K

-2.45%

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

$220 $220

$89.1 MX$1,506

146.54%

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

$67.4 $67.4

$25.04 MX$423

169.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 $67.6

$31.50 MX$532

114.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.94 $35.94

$67.8 MX$1,145

-46.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$28.92 MX$489

41.91%

Cinema Ticket

$13.01 $13.01

$5.05 MX$85.3

157.62%

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

$1,609 $1,609

$225 MX$3,802

615.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K $34.8K

$4,222 MX$71.4K

725.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.33 $49.33

$47.44 MX$802

3.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.91 $41.91

$44.98 MX$760

-6.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 $82.8

$82.0 MX$1,386

0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$92.1 MX$1,556

18.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,557 $1,557

$1,069 MX$18.1K

45.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 $1,112

$405 MX$6,850

174.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,315 $2,315

$1,935 MX$32.7K

19.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 $1,889

$1,301 MX$22.0K

45.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,453 $3,453

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-13.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,750 $1,750

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-73.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,761 $3,761

$749 MX$12.7K

402.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

11.45

-46.90%

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

Last update for Columbus, OH: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,557 in Columbus, OH 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 402% higher in Columbus, OH, 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 $76.0 in Columbus, OH versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 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

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

Columbus, OH costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,696 per month in Columbus, OH 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 $2,464 in Columbus, OH and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 104% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Columbus, OH at $2,464. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Columbus, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,293 versus $2,464 in Columbus, OH. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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