Cost of Living Comparison Between DeLand, FL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between DeLand, FL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,625 in DeLand, FL versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,796 in DeLand, FL versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,967 in DeLand, FL versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in DeLand, FL is roughly 103% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: DeLand, FL is 91% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.38 $20.38
$11.71 MX$198
74.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0 $79.0
$46.59 MX$786
69.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$11.65 MX$197
-2.66%
Cappuccino
$5.38 $5.38
$4.09 MX$69.1
31.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.37 MX$23.20
89.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.83 MX$14.07
139.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 $6.33
$3.35 MX$56.6
88.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 $7.65
$6.91 MX$117
10.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.73 MX$29.15
-24.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.26 MX$38.15
52.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.77 MX$29.86
54.80%
Eggs
$2.90 $2.90
$2.73 MX$46.12
6.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$9.18 MX$155
31.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 $11.57
$8.92 MX$151
29.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.00 $21.00
$12.60 MX$213
66.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$3.02 MX$51.0
63.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.57 MX$26.51
-40.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.13 MX$35.88
110.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$2.26 MX$38.22
106.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.00 MX$33.82
43.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.06 MX$34.85
87.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.18 MX$19.91
85.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.20 MX$20.32
59.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.24 $10.24
$4.63 MX$78.2
121.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.96 $17.96
$10.69 MX$180
68.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.62 MX$27.33
17.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.88 MX$48.63
14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.57 MX$9.68
296.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.83 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$5.45 MX$91.9
-51.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.70 MX$62.5
-57.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.55 $27.55
$5.98 MX$101
360.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.55 MX$26.22
-36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$22.3K MX$376.8K
54.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$25.9K MX$438.0K
-4.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 $278
$89.1 MX$1,504
211.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7 $56.7
$25.04 MX$423
126.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$31.50 MX$532
122.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.29 $30.29
$67.8 MX$1,144
-55.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.27 $15.27
$5.05 MX$85.2
202.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,451 $1,451
$225 MX$3,797
544.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.0K $24.0K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
469.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 $52.0
$47.44 MX$801
9.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.27 $41.27
$44.98 MX$759
-8.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 $81.7
$82.0 MX$1,384
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$92.1 MX$1,555
27.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,809 $1,809
$1,069 MX$18.0K
69.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 $1,276
$405 MX$6,842
214.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,739 $2,739
$1,935 MX$32.7K
41.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,129 $2,129
$1,301 MX$22.0K
63.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 $2,449
$3,995 MX$67.4K
-38.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,059 $2,059
$6,626 MX$111.8K
-68.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.35
11.45
-35.81%

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

Last update for DeLand, FL: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,809 in DeLand, FL and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in DeLand, FL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $277 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
DeLand, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than DeLand, FL?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,938 in DeLand, FL and $1,940 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 DeLand, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,809 in DeLand, FL versus $1,069 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 DeLand, FL and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in DeLand, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in DeLand, FL and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,625 per month in DeLand, FL versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in DeLand, FL or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,625 in DeLand, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in DeLand, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is DeLand, FL or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in DeLand, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in DeLand, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

DeLand, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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