Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Concord, CA and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,891 in Concord, CA, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Concord, CA, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Concord, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,891
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,891 in Concord, CA versus $1,202 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Concord, CA $2,891
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,258 in Concord, CA versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Concord, CA $4,258
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,625 in Concord, CA versus $2,962 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Concord, CA $5,625
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Living in Concord, CA is roughly 140% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Concord, CA is 114% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39 $25.39
$10.67 MX$201
137.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 $78.8
$43.80 MX$824
79.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$11.79 MX$222
25.45%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$3.79 MX$71.2
54.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.30 MX$24.41
142.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.83 MX$15.69
210.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.90 $8.90
$3.15 MX$59.2
182.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 $7.86
$4.93 MX$92.9
59.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.41 MX$26.51
-7.09%
White Bread (500g)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.20 MX$41.32
99.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$1.47 MX$27.71
231.97%
Eggs
$5.28 $5.28
$2.50 MX$46.99
111.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.70 $24.70
$7.29 MX$137
238.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.79 $11.79
$7.95 MX$150
48.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 $13.25
$12.86 MX$242
3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$2.90 MX$54.5
88.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.38 MX$26.03
79.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$2.49 MX$46.88
90.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$2.03 MX$38.20
182.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.02 MX$38.11
64.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.90 MX$35.82
101.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.14 MX$21.54
113.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.24 MX$23.32
112.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64 $11.64
$4.27 MX$80.4
172.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.17 $13.17
$9.81 MX$185
34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.59 MX$29.85
25.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.75 MX$51.7
-10.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$0.51 MX$9.69
380.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.5 $60.5
$27.39 MX$515
120.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.76 MX$89.6
-25.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.25 MX$61.1
-31.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$5.39 MX$101
554.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.53 MX$28.76
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$21.2K MX$399.2K
29.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$23.3K MX$437.8K
15.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 $137
$83.5 MX$1,571
64.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.79 $42.79
$23.19 MX$436
84.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$27.61 MX$520
131.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$56.4 MX$1,062
2.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.19 MX$531
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.36 $11.36
$5.00 MX$94.1
127.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,196 $2,196
$207 MX$3,897
960.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K $19.6K
$5,231 MX$98.4K
275.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.45 MX$818
20.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36 $40.36
$42.54 MX$801
-5.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 $75.1
$72.8 MX$1,369
3.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.7 $59.7
$88.4 MX$1,663
-32.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,220 $2,220
$995 MX$18.7K
123.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,518 $1,518
$382 MX$7,197
296.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,428 $4,428
$1,674 MX$31.5K
164.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,512 $2,512
$1,081 MX$20.3K
132.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,191 $4,191
$3,909 MX$73.6K
7.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,198 $4,198
$6,138 MX$115.5K
-31.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Concord, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,027 $5,027
$832 MX$15.7K
504.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.45
-41.83%

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

Last update for Concord, CA: November 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Concord, CA
$1.5K
Playa del Carmen
$382 74.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Concord, CA
$461
Playa del Carmen
$257 44.1% $203
Eating Out
Concord, CA
$401
Playa del Carmen
$200 50% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Concord, CA
$244
Playa del Carmen
$134 45% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Concord, CA
$102
Playa del Carmen
$111 8.7% $8.9
Getting Around
Concord, CA
$85
Playa del Carmen
$50 40.6% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Concord, CA
$80
Playa del Carmen
$66 17.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,220 in Concord, CA and $995 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Concord, CA pays about 6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $79 in Concord, CA vs $44 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $257 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Concord, CA
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
20:28 8:28 PM
23:28 11:28 PM
3 h ahead of Concord, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,695
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.82 MXN (100 MXN = 5.31 USD). 1 EUR = 21.05 MXN (100 MXN = 4.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Concord, CA Playa del Carmen 3,870 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Concord, CA
  • 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
Concord, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Concord, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,891 in Concord, CA and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, so Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Concord, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Concord, CA is about 6 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Concord, CA and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,220 in Concord, CA versus $995 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $44 versus $79 in Concord, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Concord, CA or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you’ll spend $2,891 per month in Concord, CA versus $1,202 in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,891 in Concord, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Concord, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Concord, CA and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Where should expats move: Concord, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Concord, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Concord, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?