Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubuque, IA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubuque, IA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,813 per month in Dubuque, IA vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,555 per month in Dubuque, IA vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,297 per month in Dubuque, IA vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dubuque, IA costs about 44% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dubuque, IA sits 35% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.69 $15.69

$11.67 MX$202

34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$41.88 MX$726

20.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 $10.09

$10.40 MX$180

-2.98%

Cappuccino

$4.60 $4.60

$3.61 MX$62.6

27.42%

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

$1.97 $1.97

$1.47 MX$25.45

34.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.91 MX$15.80

13.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.03 MX$52.6

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.47 MX$77.4

2.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.38 MX$23.83

-44.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.84 MX$31.93

27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$1.61 MX$27.82

93.17%

Eggs

$2.79 $2.79

$2.57 MX$44.52

8.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.77 $9.77

$8.49 MX$147

15.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.99 $9.99

$8.49 MX$147

17.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 $14.10

$10.99 MX$190

28.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.73 MX$47.25

34.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.50 MX$25.92

-22.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.96 MX$33.93

81.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.12 MX$36.70

57.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.86 MX$32.30

-2.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.17 MX$37.67

-3.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.07 MX$18.59

74.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.05 MX$18.18

87.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.24 $8.24

$4.19 MX$72.6

96.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.31 $13.31

$10.28 MX$178

29.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.67 MX$28.87

8.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.49 MX$43.12

13.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.54 MX$9.37

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.21 $44.21

$26.27 MX$455

68.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.10 MX$53.8

-7.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.46 MX$42.66

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.64 $20.64

$3.24 MX$56.1

537.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.26 MX$21.83

-35.71%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-0.85%

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

$22.5K $22.5K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

-3.93%

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

$183 $183

$84.0 MX$1,456

117.36%

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

$48.28 $48.28

$22.21 MX$385

117.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$29.65 MX$514

115.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 $38.22

$52.6 MX$912

-27.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 $8.58

$4.95 MX$85.7

73.33%

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

$787 $787

$198 MX$3,438

296.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

348.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.57 $42.57

$35.95 MX$623

18.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.34 $35.34

$40.06 MX$694

-11.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 $79.5

$78.8 MX$1,365

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.3 $91.3

$86.5 MX$1,499

5.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 $963

$977 MX$16.9K

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 $750

$471 MX$8,158

59.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,408 $1,408

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-11.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$966 $966

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-20.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,749 $1,749

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-56.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,740 $1,740

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-73.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,664 $4,664

$714 MX$12.4K

553.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.88

11.42

-57.27%

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

Last update for Dubuque, IA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Dubuque, IA versus $977 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 553% higher in Dubuque, IA, 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 $50 in Dubuque, IA versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 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

Dubuque, IA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubuque, IA costs about 44% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,720 per month in Dubuque, IA and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 68% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Dubuque, IA and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Dubuque, IA at $1,813. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubuque, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $1,813 in Dubuque, IA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubuque, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.