Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Crookston, MN and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,597 in Crookston, MN, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Crookston, MN, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Crookston, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,597
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,597 per month in Crookston, MN vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Crookston, MN $2,597
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,793 per month in Crookston, MN vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Crookston, MN $3,793
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,989 per month in Crookston, MN vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Crookston, MN $4,989
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Crookston, MN costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Crookston, MN sits 91% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$10.92 MX$203
81.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 $72.4
$43.37 MX$808
66.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 $10.95
$11.78 MX$219
-7.05%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$3.81 MX$71.0
45.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.28 MX$23.89
131.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.78 MX$14.58
176.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.90 $6.90
$3.17 MX$59.0
117.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.63 $6.63
$4.93 MX$91.9
34.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.41 MX$26.20
-24.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.22 MX$41.30
62.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.42 MX$26.40
202.11%
Eggs
$4.24 $4.24
$2.52 MX$47.00
68.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.31 $12.31
$7.26 MX$135
69.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 $11.46
$7.70 MX$143
48.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.73 $16.73
$12.69 MX$236
31.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.78 MX$51.9
81.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.37 MX$25.49
14.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.55 MX$47.52
67.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.12 MX$39.55
115.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.94 MX$36.11
39.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.89 MX$35.13
60.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.15 MX$21.36
82.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.18 MX$21.96
94.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.86 $10.86
$4.30 MX$80.0
152.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.10 $15.10
$9.95 MX$185
51.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.58 MX$29.50
23.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.67 MX$49.76
23.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.55 MX$10.31
258.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$26.62 MX$496
124.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$4.97 MX$92.6
-41.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 $1.48
$3.33 MX$62.1
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.23 $34.23
$5.36 MX$99.8
538.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.44 MX$26.90
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$20.7K MX$385.0K
38.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$23.5K MX$437.2K
12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$84.8 MX$1,580
137.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.2 $58.2
$23.41 MX$436
148.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$28.66 MX$534
144.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.39 $39.39
$57.1 MX$1,063
-30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.63 $13.63
$5.14 MX$95.7
165.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,381 $1,381
$207 MX$3,848
568.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
507.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.35 MX$808
20.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.80 $40.80
$41.44 MX$772
-1.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 $87.8
$74.2 MX$1,382
18.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$89.3 MX$1,663
27.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,552 $1,552
$980 MX$18.2K
58.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,267 $1,267
$381 MX$7,095
232.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,523 $2,523
$1,708 MX$31.8K
47.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 $2,086
$1,075 MX$20.0K
94.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,998 $2,998
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-23.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,328 $2,328
$6,158 MX$114.7K
-62.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crookston, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,527 $3,527
$735 MX$13.7K
380.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
11.45
-42.62%

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

Last update for Crookston, MN: October 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Crookston, MN
$1.3K
Playa del Carmen
$381 70% $887
Groceries & Markets
Crookston, MN
$397
Playa del Carmen
$255 35.8% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crookston, MN
$329
Playa del Carmen
$137 58.4% $193
Eating Out
Crookston, MN
$326
Playa del Carmen
$202 38% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Crookston, MN
$132
Playa del Carmen
$112 15.7% $21
Getting Around
Crookston, MN
$78
Playa del Carmen
$50 35.2% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Crookston, MN
$67
Playa del Carmen
$67 1% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,552 in Crookston, MN versus $980 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 in Crookston, MN are about 4.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Crookston, MN versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Crookston, MN
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
02:33 2:33 AM
02:33 2:33 AM
Same time as Crookston, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,500
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.79 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Crookston, MN Playa del Carmen 3,140 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Crookston, MN
  • 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
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 116% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,895 per month in Crookston, MN and $1,806 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,552 in Crookston, MN.
How expensive is transport in Crookston, MN compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 55% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,381 per month in Crookston, MN and $207 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Crookston, MN at $2,597. 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 families?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Crookston, MN or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries 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

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