😐A single person spends $2,641 per month in Dayton, NV vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,794 per month in Dayton, NV vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,947 per month in Dayton, NV vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Dayton, NV costs about 108% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Dayton, NV sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08$20.08
$11.87MX$204
69.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.5$59.5
$42.90MX$736
38.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.16$10.16
$10.65MX$183
-4.60%
Cappuccino
$2.95$2.95
$3.45MX$59.2
-14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$1.50MX$25.81
-2.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$0.95MX$16.28
54.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.95$4.95
$3.03MX$51.9
63.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06$8.06
$4.61MX$79.1
74.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$1.38MX$23.61
-11.59%
White Bread(500g)
$4.36$4.36
$1.85MX$31.70
135.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.61MX$27.65
168.32%
Eggs
$6.35$6.35
$2.59MX$44.51
145.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.31$12.31
$8.26MX$142
49.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.43$11.43
$8.37MX$144
36.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83$7.83
$10.66MX$183
-26.55%
Apples(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$2.63MX$45.12
69.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$1.49MX$25.53
16.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$1.92MX$32.94
130.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.38$5.38
$2.09MX$35.81
157.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.86MX$31.88
56.45%
Onion(1kg)
$3.28$3.28
$2.26MX$38.81
45.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92$1.92
$1.06MX$18.23
81.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$1.09MX$18.67
100.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19$10.19
$4.15MX$71.2
145.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.74$15.74
$10.39MX$178
51.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$1.72MX$29.59
21.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03$3.03
$2.61MX$44.85
16.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.54MX$9.30
277.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$3.13MX$53.7
14.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89$1.89
$2.51MX$43.09
-24.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.36$29.36
$3.15MX$54.1
832.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.27MX$21.88
-14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K$30.4K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
10.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$273$273
$83.0MX$1,425
229.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.76$48.76
$22.71MX$390
114.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.1$65.1
$29.46MX$506
121.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.75$43.75
$51.0MX$875
-14.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.15$15.15
$4.93MX$84.5
207.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,858$1,858
$197MX$3,386
841.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K$23.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
352.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.29$40.29
$36.90MX$633
9.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.27$40.27
$39.89MX$685
0.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122$122
$80.0MX$1,373
52.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1$75.1
$89.5MX$1,536
-16.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,620$1,620
$956MX$16.4K
69.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,367$1,367
$477MX$8,189
186.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,657$2,657
$1,646MX$28.3K
61.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,207$2,207
$1,225MX$21.0K
80.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092$3,092
$3,918MX$67.2K
-21.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,213$2,213
$6,459MX$110.9K
-65.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dayton, NV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
11.42
-51.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dayton, NV: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,620 in Dayton, NV versus $956 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Dayton, NV versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $250 – 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
Dayton, NV vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Dayton, NV?
Yes – Dayton, NV is pricier by about 108%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,962 per month in Dayton, NV and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Dayton, NV or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Dayton, NV and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Dayton, NV and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Dayton, NV, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dayton, NV or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Dayton, NV at $2,641. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dayton, NV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dayton, NV or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dayton, NV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Dayton, NV vs other spots: cost of living compared