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 58.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 99.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Centro, CA is 38.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 51.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 $11.94
$11.85 MX$212
0.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.38 $39.38
$42.16 MX$755
-6.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.17 $15.17
$10.75 MX$192
41.12%
Cappuccino
$4.03 $4.03
$3.47 MX$62.2
16.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.45 MX$26.01
41.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.90 MX$16.16
120.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.05 MX$54.7
-2.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$4.42 MX$79.1
59.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.37 MX$24.51
-18.25%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.87 MX$33.51
130.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$1.54 MX$27.63
197.40%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$2.50 MX$44.81
48.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 $12.07
$8.61 MX$154
40.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$8.63 MX$155
89.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$11.02 MX$197
42.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.75 MX$49.22
60.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.43 MX$25.56
18.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$1.87 MX$33.52
174.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$2.17 MX$38.80
160.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$1.88 MX$33.70
74.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.25 MX$40.21
25.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.07 MX$19.11
89.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.07 MX$19.22
104.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 $10.80
$4.15 MX$74.4
160.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$10.34 MX$185
44.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.68 MX$30.06
13.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.48 MX$44.46
38.71%
🚌 Getting Around
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.55 MX$9.93
270.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.53 MX$475
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 $6.44
$3.22 MX$57.6
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.48 MX$44.42
7.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.94 $28.94
$3.11 MX$55.7
830.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.26 MX$22.48
2.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$30.7K MX$548.8K
-17.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$24.0K MX$430.3K
18.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$82.5 MX$1,476
88.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0 $54.0
$22.29 MX$399
142.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5 $57.5
$30.02 MX$537
91.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.58 $42.58
$51.4 MX$921
-17.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$4.98 MX$89.2
205.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,499 $1,499
$200 MX$3,580
649.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$5,304 MX$94.9K
340.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.24 $47.24
$35.71 MX$639
32.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42 $33.42
$39.56 MX$708
-15.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$80.6 MX$1,442
26.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$88.3 MX$1,581
16.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$969 MX$17.4K
63.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$482 MX$8,632
184.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,595 $2,595
$1,595 MX$28.6K
62.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,256 $2,256
$1,184 MX$21.2K
90.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,519 $2,519
$4,050 MX$72.5K
-37.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,631 $2,631
$6,522 MX$116.7K
-59.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Centro, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$756 MX$13.5K
-
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: February 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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