😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,740 in Eldon, MO versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,989 in Eldon, MO versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,238 in Eldon, MO versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Eldon, MO is roughly 117% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eldon, MO is 104% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.91$24.91
$11.67MX$202
113.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0$71.0
$41.88MX$726
69.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.10$11.10
$10.40MX$180
6.73%
Cappuccino
$4.92$4.92
$3.61MX$62.6
36.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$1.47MX$25.45
63.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$0.91MX$15.80
108.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.25$5.25
$3.03MX$52.6
73.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95$5.95
$4.47MX$77.4
33.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$1.38MX$23.83
-31.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87$2.87
$1.84MX$31.93
55.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.53$5.53
$1.61MX$27.82
243.48%
Eggs
$2.84$2.84
$2.57MX$44.52
10.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.18$14.18
$8.49MX$147
67.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.12$12.12
$8.49MX$147
42.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.81$16.81
$10.99MX$190
52.96%
Apples(1kg)
$7.39$7.39
$2.73MX$47.25
170.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30$2.30
$1.50MX$25.92
53.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.90$5.90
$1.96MX$33.93
201.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08$4.08
$2.12MX$36.70
92.45%
Potato(1kg)
$3.86$3.86
$1.86MX$32.30
107.53%
Onion(1kg)
$4.07$4.07
$2.17MX$37.67
87.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.32$2.32
$1.07MX$18.59
116.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.05MX$18.18
134.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66$7.66
$4.19MX$72.6
82.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.95$14.95
$10.28MX$178
45.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$1.67MX$28.87
29.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93$3.93
$2.49MX$43.12
57.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.54MX$9.37
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59$3.59
$3.10MX$53.8
15.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$2.46MX$42.66
-36.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.76$40.76
$3.24MX$56.1
1158.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26MX$21.83
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K$32.8K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
8.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
11.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239$239
$84.0MX$1,456
185.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1$52.1
$22.21MX$385
134.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8$69.8
$29.65MX$514
135.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.28$43.28
$52.6MX$912
-17.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.79$12.79
$4.95MX$85.7
158.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,325$1,325
$198MX$3,438
567.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.2K$24.2K
$5,322MX$92.2K
354.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0$51.0
$35.95MX$623
41.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69$40.69
$40.06MX$694
1.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1$79.1
$78.8MX$1,365
0.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121$121
$86.5MX$1,499
39.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$977MX$16.9K
65.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,328$1,328
$471MX$8,158
182.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,579$2,579
$1,595MX$27.6K
61.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,240$2,240
$1,215MX$21.1K
84.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,025$3,025
$4,032MX$69.9K
-24.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,648$2,648
$6,579MX$114.0K
-59.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
11.42
-43.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eldon, MO: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Eldon, MO and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71 in Eldon, MO vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 vs $252 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
Eldon, MO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Eldon, MO?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 117% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,110 in Eldon, MO and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Eldon, MO and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,619 in Eldon, MO versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Eldon, MO and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Eldon, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Eldon, MO vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,740 per month in Eldon, MO versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Eldon, MO or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,740 in Eldon, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Eldon, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Eldon, MO or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Eldon, MO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Eldon, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.