Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth City, NC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth City, NC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,516 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,601 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Elizabeth City, NC costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elizabeth City, NC sits 88% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 $11.94

$11.95 MX$208

-0.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.82 $34.82

$41.94 MX$730

-16.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 $10.15

$10.42 MX$181

-2.59%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$3.51 MX$61.2

50.43%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$1.52 MX$26.39

56.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.91 MX$15.84

115.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.53 $5.53

$3.04 MX$52.9

81.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.37 MX$76.1

39.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.42 MX$24.73

-39.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.83 MX$31.87

130.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.63 MX$28.45

102.45%

Eggs

$4.79 $4.79

$2.54 MX$44.20

88.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$8.57 MX$149

27.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.56 $11.56

$8.49 MX$148

36.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.30 $16.30

$10.80 MX$188

50.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.75 MX$47.94

61.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.44 MX$25.00

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.89 MX$32.83

137.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.17 MX$37.77

98.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.78 MX$30.97

21.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.22 MX$38.71

-1.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.07 MX$18.60

82.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.08 MX$18.79

108.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.15 MX$72.2

86.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$10.45 MX$182

46.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.74 MX$30.34

21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.58 MX$44.92

15.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.51 MX$8.94

301.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.21 MX$55.9

-19.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.50 MX$43.55

-32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.11 $15.11

$3.19 MX$55.4

373.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.26 MX$21.87

-35.71%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$29.7K MX$516.6K

0.77%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.7K MX$412.1K

9.99%

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

$191 $191

$82.0 MX$1,427

132.34%

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

$65.4 $65.4

$22.73 MX$395

187.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 $58.9

$29.42 MX$512

100.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.49 $43.49

$52.2 MX$908

-16.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$14.85 $14.85

$4.93 MX$85.9

201.22%

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

$1,476 $1,476

$202 MX$3,511

631.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,217 MX$90.8K

353.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$35.93 MX$625

45.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.30 $39.30

$40.33 MX$702

-2.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 $88.4

$79.9 MX$1,390

10.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$89.3 MX$1,554

54.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 $1,601

$948 MX$16.5K

68.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$465 MX$8,097

187.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,630 MX$28.4K

59.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,190 $2,190

$1,193 MX$20.8K

83.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,387 $2,387

$3,933 MX$68.4K

-39.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,249 $2,249

$6,428 MX$111.9K

-65.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

11.42

-42.82%

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

Last update for Elizabeth City, NC: July 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,601 in Elizabeth City, NC versus $948 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 $35.00 in Elizabeth City, NC versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Elizabeth City, NC vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Elizabeth City, NC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,516 in Elizabeth City, NC, $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 100% apart. Elizabeth City, NC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,774 per month in Elizabeth City, NC and $1,888 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 $35.00 in Elizabeth City, NC and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 53% more in Elizabeth City, NC, 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 $1,259, than in Elizabeth City, NC at $2,516. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elizabeth City, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Playa del Carmen to $2,516 in Elizabeth City, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elizabeth City, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.