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 $2,659 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,824 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,988 per month in Dodge City, KS vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dodge City, KS costs about 111% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Dodge City, KS sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.14 $20.14
$11.61 MX$201
73.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3 $54.3
$42.75 MX$742
26.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 $9.92
$10.60 MX$184
-6.42%
Cappuccino
$4.55 $4.55
$3.59 MX$62.3
26.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.45 MX$25.21
68.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$0.90 MX$15.58
94.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 $5.45
$3.03 MX$52.6
79.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 $5.94
$4.56 MX$79.2
30.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.45 MX$25.20
-35.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$1.83 MX$31.72
103.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.61 MX$27.92
178.88%
Eggs
$3.87 $3.87
$2.54 MX$44.05
52.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.73 $9.73
$8.54 MX$148
13.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.66 $10.66
$8.47 MX$147
25.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.14 $18.14
$10.86 MX$189
67.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.73 MX$47.37
-8.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.49 MX$25.91
11.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.94 MX$33.73
102.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.16 MX$37.57
9.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.85 MX$32.05
37.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.19 MX$38.00
1.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.07 MX$18.62
94.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.08 MX$18.81
69.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.52 $9.52
$4.06 MX$70.5
134.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 $12.11
$10.46 MX$182
15.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.65 MX$28.71
30.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.55 MX$44.23
47.84%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.56 MX$9.65
260.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.14 MX$54.5
-18.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.37 MX$41.17
-36.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.02 $26.02
$3.24 MX$56.2
703.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.31 MX$22.81
-41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$30.5K MX$530.2K
-9.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$23.8K MX$413.6K
2.55%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$316 $316
$83.1 MX$1,443
279.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$22.15 MX$385
147.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$29.37 MX$510
145.59%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.27 $42.27
$51.2 MX$889
-17.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.17 $13.17
$4.89 MX$84.9
169.33%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$909 $909
$199 MX$3,449
357.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$5,207 MX$90.4K
208.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.90 $45.90
$35.93 MX$624
27.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 $38.28
$39.39 MX$684
-2.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$80.3 MX$1,394
37.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 $109
$87.6 MX$1,520
24.17%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$963 MX$16.7K
68.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$482 MX$8,370
184.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,649 $2,649
$1,645 MX$28.6K
61.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 $2,179
$1,192 MX$20.7K
82.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,026 $2,026
$3,957 MX$68.7K
-48.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,030 $2,030
$6,513 MX$113.1K
-68.83%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Dodge City, KS
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,849 $2,849
$726 MX$12.6K
292.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
11.42
-42.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dodge City, KS: April 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,621 in Dodge City, KS versus $963 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 292% 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 $54 in Dodge City, KS versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $253 โ€“ 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 Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,659 in Dodge City, KS, $1,262 in Playa del Carmen โ€“ roughly 111% 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 $3,988 per month in Dodge City, KS and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 $2,659 in Dodge City, KS and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ 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 $909 per month in Dodge City, KS and $199 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 $1,262, than in Dodge City, KS at $2,659. 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 $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,659 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 โ€“ 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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