Cost of Living Comparison Between Downey, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Downey, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,185 in Downey, CA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,019 in Downey, CA versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,854 in Downey, CA versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Downey, CA is roughly 146% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Downey, CA is 132% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.63 $24.63

$11.71 MX$199

110.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$46.59 MX$792

114.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.65 MX$198

24.72%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$4.09 MX$69.6

46.21%

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

$3.86 $3.86

$1.37 MX$23.35

181.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$0.83 MX$14.17

231.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 $7.95

$3.35 MX$57.0

137.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.89 $9.89

$6.91 MX$117

43.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.73 MX$29.35

-23.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.26 MX$38.41

101.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$1.77 MX$30.07

276.27%

Eggs

$5.26 $5.26

$2.73 MX$46.43

92.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$9.18 MX$156

29.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.74 $14.74

$8.92 MX$152

65.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.53 $19.53

$12.60 MX$214

55.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.02 MX$51.3

78.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.57 MX$26.69

51.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.13 MX$36.12

138.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.26 MX$38.48

157.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.00 MX$34.05

65.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.06 MX$35.08

55.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.18 MX$20.05

70.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.20 MX$20.46

112.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.87 $11.87

$4.63 MX$78.8

156.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$10.69 MX$182

42.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.62 MX$27.52

34.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.88 MX$48.96

-5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$507

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.45 MX$92.6

-46.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.70 MX$63.0

-49.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.59 $31.59

$5.98 MX$102

428.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.55 MX$26.40

-10.32%

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

$37.4K $37.4K

$22.3K MX$379.4K

67.42%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.9K MX$441.0K

-2.16%

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

$250 $250

$89.1 MX$1,515

180.48%

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

$76.1 $76.1

$25.04 MX$426

203.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.6 $79.6

$31.50 MX$535

152.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 $35.51

$67.8 MX$1,152

-47.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$13.85 $13.85

$5.05 MX$85.8

174.26%

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

$1,441 $1,441

$225 MX$3,823

540.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.5K $32.5K

$4,222 MX$71.8K

668.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 $87.6

$47.44 MX$806

84.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.32 $45.32

$44.98 MX$764

0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 $79.4

$82.0 MX$1,393

-3.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 $164

$92.1 MX$1,565

77.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 $1,950

$1,069 MX$18.2K

82.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,731 $1,731

$405 MX$6,888

327.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,660 $3,660

$1,935 MX$32.9K

89.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,337 $3,337

$1,301 MX$22.1K

156.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,811 $5,811

$3,995 MX$67.9K

45.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,635 $5,635

$6,626 MX$112.6K

-14.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,218 $4,218

$749 MX$12.7K

463.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

11.45

-43.93%

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

Last update for Downey, CA: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,950 in Downey, CA and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Downey, CA pays 463% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $100 in Downey, CA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $467 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

Downey, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 146% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 463% higher in Downey, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,950 in Downey, CA versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Downey, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,185 per month in Downey, CA versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,185 in Downey, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Downey, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Downey, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Downey, CA and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Downey, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.