Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 63.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 66.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 47.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 $15.97

$11.58 MX$212

37.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$42 MX$769

87.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.5 MX$192

12.95%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$3.43 MX$62.8

39.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.49 MX$27.34

59.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.94 MX$17.27

106.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.1 $5.1

$3.08 MX$56.3

65.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.37 MX$79.9

57.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.39 MX$25.44

-33.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.85 MX$33.81

38.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.58 MX$28.88

40.51%

Eggs

$3.51 $3.51

$2.51 MX$46

39.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.55 $12.55

$8.26 MX$151

51.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.49 $10.49

$8.7 MX$159

20.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.1 $13.1

$10.73 MX$196

22.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.61 MX$47.74

68.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 $1.5

$1.49 MX$27.28

0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$1.95 MX$35.72

86.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.09 MX$38.26

69.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.81 MX$33.05

-7.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.16 MX$39.62

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.03 MX$18.85

118.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.08 MX$19.7

4.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 $7.07

$4.14 MX$75.9

70.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$8.88 MX$163

55.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.67 MX$30.64

5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 $4.02

$2.53 MX$46.31

58.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.51 MX$9.27

235.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.3 $58.3

$26.68 MX$488

118.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.26 MX$59.7

-37.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.51 MX$45.94

-49.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.95 $19.95

$3.12 MX$57.2

539.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.31 MX$23.96

-41.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.9K MX$565K

-16.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.9K MX$436.9K

4.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$142 $142

$83 MX$1,520

71.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$52.1 $52.1

$22.59 MX$414

130.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 $54.5

$29.51 MX$540

84.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 $65.5

$51.6 MX$944

26.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 $20.02

$18.42 MX$337

8.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$4.9 MX$89.7

200.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,364 $1,364

$200 MX$3,668

580.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12K $12K

$5,179 MX$94.8K

131.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$36.41 MX$667

44.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.5 $41.5

$39.91 MX$731

3.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 $71.5

$79.9 MX$1,462

-10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$87.7 MX$1,605

40.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 $1,219

$983 MX$18K

24.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 $906

$470 MX$8,612

92.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$1,610 MX$29.5K

7.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,467 $1,467

$1,189 MX$21.8K

23.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 $2,294

$3,839 MX$70.3K

-40.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,275 $2,275

$6,205 MX$113.6K

-63.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,582 $3,582

$724 MX$13.2K

395.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: December 1, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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