Cost of Living Comparison Between Del Rio, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Del Rio, TX and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,544 in Del Rio, TX versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,677 in Del Rio, TX versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,809 in Del Rio, TX versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Del Rio, TX is roughly 98% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Del Rio, TX is 90% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.32 $19.32
$11.94 MX$208
61.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.6 $55.6
$42.75 MX$744
29.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 $10.89
$10.59 MX$184
2.83%
Cappuccino
$3.92 $3.92
$3.62 MX$63.0
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.47 MX$25.54
38.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.94 MX$16.41
107.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.83 $3.83
$3.09 MX$53.8
23.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 $4.57
$4.46 MX$77.6
2.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.43 MX$24.80
-33.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.88 MX$32.79
56.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$1.63 MX$28.34
197.55%
Eggs
$3.71 $3.71
$2.64 MX$45.99
40.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.85 $10.85
$8.21 MX$143
32.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.95 $9.95
$8.29 MX$144
20.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.86 $14.86
$11.10 MX$193
33.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$2.65 MX$46.14
58.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.50 MX$26.11
2.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.99 MX$34.59
99.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.08 MX$36.13
57.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.79 MX$31.11
3.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.18 MX$37.87
19.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.08 MX$18.73
55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.04 MX$18.04
84.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10 $9.10
$3.97 MX$69.1
129.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$10.20 MX$178
47.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.73 MX$30.04
36.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.50 MX$43.46
30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.52 MX$9.02
290.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.97 MX$469
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.14 MX$54.7
9.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$2.40 MX$41.80
-20.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.44 $45.44
$3.09 MX$53.7
1370.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.27 MX$22.16
-40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K $28.9K
$30.9K MX$537.3K
-6.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$23.3K MX$405.7K
14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$82.0 MX$1,427
143.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$22.45 MX$391
168.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$29.66 MX$516
153.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.96 $42.96
$51.9 MX$903
-17.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 $14.15
$4.97 MX$86.5
184.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,136 $1,136
$198 MX$3,442
474.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$5,273 MX$91.7K
207.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.20 $45.20
$36.34 MX$632
24.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.87 $41.87
$40.05 MX$697
4.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 $87.9
$79.9 MX$1,390
10.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$88.9 MX$1,547
60.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 $1,578
$963 MX$16.8K
63.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,356 $1,356
$465 MX$8,086
191.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,597 $2,597
$1,596 MX$27.8K
62.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,250 $2,250
$1,209 MX$21.0K
86.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,666 $1,666
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-57.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,688 $1,688
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-73.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Del Rio, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
11.42
-44.92%

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

Last update for Del Rio, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,578 in Del Rio, TX and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $56.0 in Del Rio, TX vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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
Del Rio, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Del Rio, TX?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,816 in Del Rio, TX and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Del Rio, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,578 in Del Rio, TX versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Del Rio, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Del Rio, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Del Rio, TX vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,544 per month in Del Rio, TX versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Del Rio, TX or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,544 in Del Rio, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Del Rio, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Del Rio, TX or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Del Rio, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Del Rio, TX or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Del Rio, TX and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Del Rio, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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