Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,712 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,764 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,816 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dodge City, KS costs about 115% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dodge City, KS sits 103% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.25 $20.25
$11.95 MX$209
69.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6 $54.6
$41.94 MX$732
30.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 $10.18
$10.42 MX$182
-2.30%
Cappuccino
$4.58 $4.58
$3.51 MX$61.3
30.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.52 MX$26.46
65.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.91 MX$15.89
96.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.38 $5.38
$3.04 MX$53.0
76.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$4.37 MX$76.3
33.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.42 MX$24.80
-35.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.83 MX$31.95
97.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.63 MX$28.53
175.46%
Eggs
$3.97 $3.97
$2.54 MX$44.32
56.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 $9.77
$8.57 MX$149
14.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 $10.65
$8.49 MX$148
25.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.55 $17.55
$10.80 MX$189
62.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.75 MX$48.07
-10.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.44 MX$25.06
14.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.89 MX$32.92
98.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.17 MX$37.87
9.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.78 MX$31.05
38.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.22 MX$38.82
0.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.07 MX$18.65
92.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.08 MX$18.84
71.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.25 $9.25
$4.15 MX$72.4
122.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.20 $12.20
$10.45 MX$182
16.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.74 MX$30.42
28.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.58 MX$45.04
46.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.51 MX$8.96
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$25.94 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.21 MX$56.0
-19.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.50 MX$43.67
-38.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.27 $26.27
$3.19 MX$55.6
723.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.26 MX$21.93
-38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K $27.8K
$29.7K MX$518.0K
-6.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$23.7K MX$413.3K
0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$317 $317
$82.0 MX$1,431
286.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$22.73 MX$397
139.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$29.42 MX$513
147.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.17 $43.17
$52.2 MX$911
-17.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45 MX$322
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.79 $12.79
$4.93 MX$86.1
159.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$918 $918
$202 MX$3,521
355.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$5,217 MX$91.0K
208.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.05 $46.05
$35.93 MX$627
28.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.62 $38.62
$40.33 MX$704
-4.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 $109
$79.9 MX$1,394
36.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$89.3 MX$1,558
21.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$948 MX$16.6K
68.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$465 MX$8,120
187.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,603 $2,603
$1,630 MX$28.4K
59.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$1,193 MX$20.8K
82.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,764 $2,764
$3,933 MX$68.6K
-29.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,354 $2,354
$6,428 MX$112.2K
-63.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,902 $2,902
$658 MX$11.5K
340.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
11.42
-42.91%

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

Last update for Dodge City, KS: July 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in Dodge City, KS versus $948 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.

Salaries run about 341% higher in Dodge City, KS, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Dodge City, KS versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $252 – 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
Dodge City, KS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dodge City, KS and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,712 in Dodge City, KS, $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 115% apart. Dodge City, KS costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dodge City, KS compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,069 per month in Dodge City, KS and $1,888 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dodge City, KS or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,712 in Dodge City, KS and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $918 per month in Dodge City, KS and $202 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Dodge City, KS at $2,712. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dodge City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Playa del Carmen to $2,712 in Dodge City, KS. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dodge City, KS or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Dodge City, KS and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dodge City, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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