Cost of Living Comparison Between El Centro, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between El Centro, CA and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: El Centro, CA is 32.2% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 101.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Centro, CA is 48% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 53% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.07 $12.07
$11.99 MX$227
0.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.7 $39.7
$42.47 MX$803
-6.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.08 $15.08
$10.47 MX$198
44.03%
Cappuccino
$4.11 $4.11
$3.6 MX$68.2
14.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.44 MX$27.16
43.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.89 MX$16.79
119.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.09 MX$58.5
-0.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 $7.06
$4.58 MX$86.6
54.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.38 MX$26.04
-19.57%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.85 MX$34.9
131.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$1.57 MX$29.68
207.01%
Eggs
$3.82 $3.82
$2.55 MX$48.3
49.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.19 $12.19
$8.61 MX$163
41.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.91 $15.91
$8.54 MX$161
86.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$10.98 MX$208
43.17%
Apples (1kg)
$4.4 $4.4
$2.72 MX$51.4
61.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.51 MX$28.57
14.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$1.88 MX$35.63
179.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$2.19 MX$41.42
160.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$1.87 MX$35.3
73.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.19 MX$41.37
34.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.1 $2.1
$1.07 MX$20.23
96.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.09 MX$20.64
90.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 $10.87
$3.96 MX$74.9
174.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.34 $13.34
$8.86 MX$167
50.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.72 MX$32.53
11.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.61 MX$49.37
36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.52 MX$9.74
288.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.24 MX$61.2
101.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.38 MX$44.94
13.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.79 $28.79
$3.11 MX$58.7
825.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.31 MX$24.85
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26K $26K
$30.3K MX$573K
-14.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$24K MX$453.6K
22.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$84.2 MX$1,592
87.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$22.14 MX$419
140.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$30.14 MX$570
92.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.58 $42.58
$52 MX$983
-18.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.04 $15.04
$5.07 MX$95.9
196.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$200 MX$3,787
649.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
342.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.75 $46.75
$35.74 MX$676
30.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.77 $33.77
$39.8 MX$753
-15.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$79 MX$1,493
31.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$88.4 MX$1,671
15.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 $1,623
$965 MX$18.3K
68.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 $1,369
$474 MX$8,968
188.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,629 $2,629
$1,653 MX$31.2K
59.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,232 $2,232
$1,202 MX$22.7K
85.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,434 $2,434
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-21.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 $2,662
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-64.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$792 MX$15K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
11.42
-41.86%

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

Last update for El Centro, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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