😐A single person spends $2,657 per month in Crookston, MN vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,907 per month in Crookston, MN vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,157 per month in Crookston, MN vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Crookston, MN costs about 111% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Crookston, MN sits 98% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85$18.85
$11.67MX$202
61.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2$74.2
$41.88MX$726
77.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.19$11.19
$10.40MX$180
7.60%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$3.61MX$62.6
38.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$1.47MX$25.45
76.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.91MX$15.80
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94$5.94
$3.03MX$52.6
96.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18$7.18
$4.47MX$77.4
60.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.38MX$23.83
-23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$1.84MX$31.93
85.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$1.61MX$27.82
175.78%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$2.57MX$44.52
64.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.31$12.31
$8.49MX$147
44.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.72$11.72
$8.49MX$147
38.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18$15.18
$10.99MX$190
38.13%
Apples(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$2.73MX$47.25
80.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.50MX$25.92
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$1.96MX$33.93
114.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64$4.64
$2.12MX$36.70
118.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$1.86MX$32.30
55.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$2.17MX$37.67
29.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$1.07MX$18.59
97.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$1.05MX$18.18
107.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.75$9.75
$4.19MX$72.6
132.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.19$15.19
$10.28MX$178
47.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.67MX$28.87
10.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.49MX$43.12
30.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$0.54MX$9.37
259.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.9$87.9
$26.27MX$455
234.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$3.10MX$53.8
11.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$2.46MX$42.66
-36.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.22$29.22
$3.24MX$56.1
801.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26MX$21.83
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$84.0MX$1,456
124.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8$51.8
$22.21MX$385
133.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5$68.5
$29.65MX$514
131.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.40$43.40
$52.6MX$912
-17.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.62$13.62
$4.95MX$85.7
175.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,272$1,272
$198MX$3,438
541.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,322MX$92.2K
338.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6$50.6
$35.95MX$623
40.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.04$40.04
$40.06MX$694
-0.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8$87.8
$78.8MX$1,365
11.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$86.5MX$1,499
27.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603$1,603
$977MX$16.9K
64.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,376$1,376
$471MX$8,158
192.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,679$2,679
$1,595MX$27.6K
67.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,262$2,262
$1,215MX$21.1K
86.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,458$2,458
$4,032MX$69.9K
-39.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372$2,372
$6,579MX$114.0K
-63.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,432$3,432
$714MX$12.4K
380.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crookston, MN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,603 in Crookston, MN versus $977 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 381% higher in Crookston, MN, 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 $74 in Crookston, MN versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $252 – 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
Crookston, MN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Crookston, MN or Playa del Carmen?
Crookston, MN costs about 111% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Crookston, MN vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,985 per month in Crookston, MN and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Crookston, MN or Playa del Carmen?
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.
How expensive is transport in Crookston, MN vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 235% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Crookston, MN and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,272 per month in Crookston, MN and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Crookston, MN or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Crookston, MN at $2,657. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crookston, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Crookston, MN or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $2,657 in Crookston, MN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Crookston, MN compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Crookston, MN or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Crookston, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Crookston, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared