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: $2,605 in DeLand, FL versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,765 in DeLand, FL versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,925 in DeLand, FL versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in DeLand, FL is roughly 101% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: DeLand, FL is 94% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.62 $18.62
$11.73 MX$205
58.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$41.62 MX$727
90.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 $10.96
$10.64 MX$186
3.01%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$3.52 MX$61.5
48.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.51 MX$26.37
67.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.97 MX$17.00
105.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$2.95 MX$51.5
106.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$4.45 MX$77.8
55.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.38 MX$24.16
-37.68%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.89 MX$33.04
61.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.64 MX$28.59
60.98%
Eggs
$3.00 $3.00
$2.51 MX$43.76
19.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.31 $12.31
$8.34 MX$146
47.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.64 $11.64
$8.34 MX$146
39.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.68 $20.68
$10.73 MX$187
92.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$2.60 MX$45.48
83.08%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.46 MX$25.45
-38.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$1.90 MX$33.19
118.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.08 MX$36.26
132.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$1.78 MX$31.01
62.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.19 MX$38.16
80.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.04 MX$18.16
117.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.08 MX$18.80
69.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 $9.47
$4.08 MX$71.3
132.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.98 $17.98
$10.32 MX$180
74.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.71 MX$29.90
8.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.58 MX$44.98
27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.51 MX$8.90
296.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.26 MX$57.0
10.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.49 MX$43.51
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.63 $28.63
$3.25 MX$56.7
780.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.31 MX$22.83
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$30.3K MX$528.8K
-3.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$23.4K MX$409.2K
9.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$82.9 MX$1,447
121.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.6 $53.6
$22.22 MX$388
141.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$29.34 MX$512
134.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.10 $30.10
$51.6 MX$902
-41.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.31 $13.31
$5.07 MX$88.5
162.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,292 $1,292
$201 MX$3,507
543.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$5,212 MX$91.0K
355.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$36.92 MX$645
39.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82 $39.82
$39.79 MX$695
0.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.6 $85.6
$78.5 MX$1,370
9.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$87.1 MX$1,521
27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$973 MX$17.0K
65.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 $1,344
$468 MX$8,169
187.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,664 $2,664
$1,641 MX$28.7K
62.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,214 $2,214
$1,221 MX$21.3K
81.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,673 $2,673
$3,946 MX$68.9K
-32.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,408 $2,408
$6,498 MX$113.5K
-62.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
DeLand, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$664 MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.35
11.42
-35.64%

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

Last update for DeLand, FL: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in DeLand, FL and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in DeLand, FL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $249 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 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,907 in DeLand, FL and $1,945 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: $1,608 in DeLand, FL versus $973 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,605 per month in DeLand, FL versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for DeLand, FL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,605 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 101% less than in DeLand, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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