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 $1,877 per month in Davenport, IA vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,877 per month in Davenport, IA vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,877 per month in Davenport, IA vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Davenport, IA costs about 49% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Davenport, IA sits 41% 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
$18.46 $18.46
$11.99 MX$210
53.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3 $64.3
$41.78 MX$731
53.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 $8.18
$10.75 MX$188
-23.91%
Cappuccino
$5.26 $5.26
$3.50 MX$61.1
50.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$1.45 MX$25.33
119.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.88 MX$15.47
151.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.95 MX$51.6
66.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 $7.20
$4.51 MX$78.9
59.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.43 MX$25.04
-39.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.84 MX$32.13
47.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$1.57 MX$27.42
193.63%
Eggs
$2.74 $2.74
$2.51 MX$43.92
9.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.78 $9.78
$8.28 MX$145
18.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.51 $12.51
$8.43 MX$147
48.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.12 $15.12
$10.68 MX$187
41.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$2.61 MX$45.62
113.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.44 MX$25.15
-22.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.96 MX$34.31
131.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.09 MX$36.62
136.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.85 MX$32.37
15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.17 MX$37.90
1.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.03 MX$18.04
93.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.07 MX$18.78
152.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 $7.87
$4.10 MX$71.7
91.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.39 $15.39
$10.17 MX$178
51.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.68 MX$29.29
7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.53 MX$44.17
34.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.51 MX$8.90
101.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.58 $21.58
$26.04 MX$455
-17.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.23 MX$56.5
-15.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 $0.54
$2.41 MX$42.06
-77.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.22 $12.22
$3.23 MX$56.5
278.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.32 MX$23.10
-40.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$29.7K MX$519.2K
-4.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$23.7K MX$413.7K
12.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$82.0 MX$1,434
117.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.01 $49.01
$22.95 MX$401
113.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$30.11 MX$527
114.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.74 $32.74
$52.0 MX$909
-37.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.30 $12.30
$4.98 MX$87.0
146.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$323 $323
$197 MX$3,452
63.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$5,336 MX$93.3K
353.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.29 $43.29
$35.60 MX$622
21.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.14 $36.14
$40.33 MX$705
-10.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.9 $55.9
$78.8 MX$1,377
-29.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2 $69.2
$88.9 MX$1,555
-22.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 $1,602
$947 MX$16.6K
69.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 $707
$474 MX$8,288
49.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 $2,086
$1,644 MX$28.7K
26.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 $1,375
$1,211 MX$21.2K
13.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,585 $1,585
$4,056 MX$70.9K
-60.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,410 $1,410
$6,470 MX$113.1K
-78.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davenport, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,720 $3,720
$654 MX$11.4K
468.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
11.42
-44.05%

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

Last update for Davenport, IA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,602 in Davenport, IA versus $947 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 469% 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 $64.0 in Davenport, IA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $249 – 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: $1,877 in Davenport, IA, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 49% 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 $2,816 per month in Davenport, IA and $1,884 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 52% 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 $64.0 in Davenport, IA and $42.00 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 $1,256, than in Davenport, IA at $1,877. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $1,877 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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