Cost of Living Comparison Between Eliot, ME and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Eliot, ME and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,752 per month in Eliot, ME vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,922 per month in Eliot, ME vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,093 per month in Eliot, ME vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Eliot, ME costs about 111% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Eliot, ME sits 100% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.32 $18.32

$11.96 MX$203

53.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$47.38 MX$804

6.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 $9.03

$11.75 MX$199

-23.15%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.12 MX$70.0

24.27%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$1.40 MX$23.74

39.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.91 MX$15.48

60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.21 MX$54.4

153.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.77 $8.77

$7.07 MX$120

24.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.68 MX$28.44

-34.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$2.15 MX$36.48

96.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$1.77 MX$30.10

265.54%

Eggs

$5.93 $5.93

$2.82 MX$47.76

110.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$9.20 MX$156

64.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.06 $14.06

$9.23 MX$157

52.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.69 $18.69

$12.64 MX$214

47.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.51 $7.51

$2.95 MX$50.1

154.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.58 MX$26.79

20.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$2.22 MX$37.70

149.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.98 $6.98

$2.36 MX$40.09

195.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.99 MX$33.81

92.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.98 MX$33.58

98.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.24 MX$21.04

124.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.21 MX$20.55

136.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.77 $12.77

$4.60 MX$78.1

177.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.54 $16.54

$10.52 MX$178

57.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.69 MX$28.70

82.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.43 $5.43

$2.77 MX$47.06

96.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.60 MX$10.22

188.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 $2.54

$5.24 MX$88.8

-51.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$3.65 MX$61.9

-53.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.45 $27.45

$5.78 MX$98.1

374.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.54 MX$26.09

-30.52%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

59.23%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

1.87%

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

$260 $260

$90.7 MX$1,538

186.38%

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

$45.78 $45.78

$25.19 MX$427

81.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.2 $74.2

$31.75 MX$539

133.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.67 $41.67

$68.8 MX$1,167

-39.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$15.72 $15.72

$4.86 MX$82.5

223.46%

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

$2,804 $2,804

$226 MX$3,828

1142.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.9K $35.9K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

755.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.3 $73.3

$47.38 MX$804

54.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 $50.3

$43.45 MX$737

15.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$80.2 MX$1,361

47.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$91.4 MX$1,550

80.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$1,086 MX$18.4K

44.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$409 MX$6,933

219.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,466 $2,466

$1,972 MX$33.5K

25.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,172 $2,172

$1,281 MX$21.7K

69.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,997 $2,997

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-25.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,343 $2,343

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-65.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

11.45

-45.15%

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

Last update for Eliot, ME: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,569 in Eliot, ME versus $1,086 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Eliot, ME versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $505 vs $278 – 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

Eliot, ME vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Eliot, ME costs about 111% 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 $4,128 per month in Eliot, ME and $1,958 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Eliot, ME and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 82% more in Eliot, ME, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Eliot, ME at $2,752. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eliot, ME it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,305 versus $2,752 in Eliot, ME. 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, Eliot, ME makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.