😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,838 in Eldon, MO versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,091 in Eldon, MO versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,344 in Eldon, MO versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Eldon, MO is roughly 119% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eldon, MO is 107% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.16$15.16
$11.71MX$198
29.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$46.59MX$786
59.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.12$11.12
$11.65MX$197
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$5.62$5.62
$4.09MX$69.1
37.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46$3.46
$1.37MX$23.20
152.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20$3.20
$0.83MX$14.07
285.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89$5.89
$3.35MX$56.6
75.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.39$9.39
$6.91MX$117
35.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.73MX$29.15
-47.40%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17$3.17
$2.26MX$38.15
40.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$1.77MX$29.86
150.28%
Eggs
$4.64$4.64
$2.73MX$46.12
69.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.14$14.14
$9.18MX$155
54.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.38$15.38
$8.92MX$151
72.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.66$22.66
$12.60MX$213
79.84%
Apples(1kg)
$6.28$6.28
$3.02MX$51.0
107.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$1.57MX$26.51
56.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.13MX$35.88
127.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$2.26MX$38.22
76.99%
Potato(1kg)
$3.61$3.61
$2.00MX$33.82
80.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$2.06MX$34.85
83.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61$1.61
$1.18MX$19.91
36.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.35$3.35
$1.20MX$20.32
179.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.92$6.92
$4.63MX$78.2
49.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.75$13.75
$10.69MX$180
28.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$1.62MX$27.33
18.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67$1.67
$2.88MX$48.63
-42.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.80$1.80
$0.57MX$9.68
215.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$503
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94$2.94
$5.45MX$91.9
-46.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72$1.72
$3.70MX$62.5
-53.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.93$30.93
$5.98MX$101
417.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.55MX$26.22
-45.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K$22.5K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K$24.0K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
-7.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$452$452
$89.1MX$1,504
407.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2$54.2
$25.04MX$423
116.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8$64.8
$31.50MX$532
105.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.36$44.36
$67.8MX$1,144
-34.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.11$12.11
$5.05MX$85.2
139.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,153$1,153
$225MX$3,797
412.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$4,222MX$71.3K
455.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5$51.5
$47.44MX$801
8.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.67$41.67
$44.98MX$759
-7.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8$78.8
$82.0MX$1,384
-3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120$120
$92.1MX$1,555
30.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,174$1,174
$1,069MX$18.0K
9.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,284$1,284
$405MX$6,842
216.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,546$2,546
$1,935MX$32.7K
31.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,125$2,125
$1,301MX$22.0K
63.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,481$2,481
$3,995MX$67.4K
-37.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,041$2,041
$6,626MX$111.8K
-69.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eldon, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.05
11.45
-47.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eldon, MO: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Eldon, MO and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Eldon, MO vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 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
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. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,257 in Eldon, MO and $1,940 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: $1,174 in Eldon, MO versus $1,069 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,838 per month in Eldon, MO versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Eldon, MO or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,838 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 119% less than in Eldon, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.