Cost of Living Comparison Between Davenport, IA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Davenport, IA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,987 per month in Davenport, IA vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,095 per month in Davenport, IA vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,202 per month in Davenport, IA vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Davenport, IA costs about 54% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Davenport, IA sits 45% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65 $19.65
$11.71 MX$199
67.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0 $69.0
$46.59 MX$791
48.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 $8.55
$11.65 MX$198
-26.61%
Cappuccino
$4.98 $4.98
$4.09 MX$69.5
21.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.37 MX$23.34
109.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.83 MX$14.16
148.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.35 MX$56.9
83.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40 $7.40
$6.91 MX$117
7.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.73 MX$29.33
-49.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.26 MX$38.39
34.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$1.77 MX$30.05
190.96%
Eggs
$2.75 $2.75
$2.73 MX$46.41
0.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.56 $6.56
$9.18 MX$156
-28.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.12 $12.12
$8.92 MX$151
35.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.50 $15.50
$12.60 MX$214
23.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$3.02 MX$51.3
75.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.57 MX$26.68
-7.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.13 MX$36.10
118.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$2.26 MX$38.46
130.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.00 MX$34.04
30.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.06 MX$35.06
27.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.18 MX$20.04
93.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.20 MX$20.45
90.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.90 $7.90
$4.63 MX$78.7
70.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.37 $15.37
$10.69 MX$182
43.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.62 MX$27.50
29.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.88 MX$48.93
29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.57 MX$9.74
80.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.39 $22.39
$29.83 MX$507
-24.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 $2.74
$5.45 MX$92.5
-49.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 $0.55
$3.70 MX$62.9
-85.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.93 $11.93
$5.98 MX$102
99.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.55 MX$26.38
-46.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$22.3K MX$379.2K
28.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$25.9K MX$440.7K
-4.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 $203
$89.1 MX$1,514
128.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$25.04 MX$425
167.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3 $71.3
$31.50 MX$535
126.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.95 $31.95
$67.8 MX$1,151
-52.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$491
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.91 $13.91
$5.05 MX$85.8
175.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 $316
$225 MX$3,820
40.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K $24.4K
$4,222 MX$71.7K
476.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$47.44 MX$806
16.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 $35.36
$44.98 MX$764
-21.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.9 $58.9
$82.0 MX$1,392
-28.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 $75.6
$92.1 MX$1,564
-17.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,443 $1,443
$1,069 MX$18.2K
34.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 $767
$405 MX$6,884
89.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$1,935 MX$32.9K
16.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,563 $1,563
$1,301 MX$22.1K
20.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,587 $1,587
$3,995 MX$67.9K
-60.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,412 $1,412
$6,626 MX$112.5K
-78.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,824 $3,824
$749 MX$12.7K
410.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%

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

Last update for Davenport, IA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,443 in Davenport, IA 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 411% higher in Davenport, IA, 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 $69.0 in Davenport, IA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 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
Davenport, IA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Davenport, IA and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,987 in Davenport, IA, $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 54% apart. Davenport, IA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Davenport, IA compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,981 per month in Davenport, IA and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Davenport, IA and 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 36% more in Davenport, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Davenport, IA and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Davenport, IA at $1,987. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davenport, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Davenport, IA and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,293 in Playa del Carmen to $1,987 in Davenport, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Davenport, IA or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Davenport, IA and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Davenport, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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