😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,146 in Crestview, FL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,317 in Crestview, FL versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,487 in Crestview, FL versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Crestview, FL is roughly 70% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Crestview, FL is 61% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31$19.31
$11.72MX$203
64.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4$59.4
$41.89MX$725
41.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74$8.74
$10.51MX$182
-16.84%
Cappuccino
$5.51$5.51
$3.59MX$62.0
53.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$1.51MX$26.10
83.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$0.92MX$15.83
120.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.14$5.14
$2.96MX$51.2
73.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01$6.01
$4.41MX$76.3
36.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.40MX$24.16
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.09$3.09
$1.88MX$32.60
64.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37$2.37
$1.56MX$26.97
51.92%
Eggs
$2.70$2.70
$2.61MX$45.14
3.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.96$11.96
$8.32MX$144
43.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.81$10.81
$8.35MX$145
29.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.44$15.44
$10.86MX$188
42.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$2.71MX$46.93
57.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.51MX$26.04
11.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$1.87MX$32.41
90.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.92$4.92
$2.19MX$37.89
124.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47$2.47
$1.86MX$32.14
32.80%
Onion(1kg)
$3.35$3.35
$2.23MX$38.59
50.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69$1.69
$1.07MX$18.48
57.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.09MX$18.79
80.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.56$7.56
$4.19MX$72.4
80.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67$14.67
$10.43MX$180
40.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64$1.64
$1.66MX$28.68
-1.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$2.61MX$45.19
7.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.54MX$9.37
281.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41$3.41
$3.08MX$53.3
10.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$2.40MX$41.61
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.68$29.68
$3.13MX$54.1
848.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.31MX$22.69
-35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K$27.6K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149$149
$81.3MX$1,406
82.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.75$43.75
$22.56MX$390
93.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3$64.3
$30.05MX$520
114.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.90$29.90
$52.9MX$915
-43.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.73$15.73
$4.92MX$85.1
219.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$945$945
$201MX$3,474
370.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K$23.0K
$5,175MX$89.5K
344.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8$63.8
$35.92MX$622
77.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.53$35.53
$40.13MX$694
-11.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8$95.8
$79.7MX$1,379
20.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$86.5MX$1,496
21.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,163$1,163
$978MX$16.9K
18.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,056$1,056
$470MX$8,140
124.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,173$2,173
$1,651MX$28.6K
31.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,912$1,912
$1,203MX$20.8K
58.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,917$4,917
$3,953MX$68.4K
24.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,784$4,784
$6,607MX$114.3K
-27.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crestview, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,273$3,273
$677MX$11.7K
383.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.48
11.42
-52.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crestview, FL: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,163 in Crestview, FL and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Crestview, FL pays 384% 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: $59.0 in Crestview, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $252 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
Crestview, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Crestview, FL and in Playa del Carmen?
Crestview, FL and Playa del Carmen differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($2,146 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Crestview, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 384% higher in Crestview, FL, 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 Crestview, FL and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,163 in Crestview, FL versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Crestview, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $945 in Crestview, FL versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $59.0 in Crestview, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,146 in Crestview, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Crestview, FL. 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 Crestview, FL 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: Crestview, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Crestview, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Crestview, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared