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 $2,491 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,572 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,652 per month in Elizabeth City, NC vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Elizabeth City, NC costs about 98% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elizabeth City, NC sits 86% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.10 $12.10

$11.67 MX$202

3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.81 $34.81

$41.88 MX$726

-16.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$10.40 MX$180

-4.90%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$3.61 MX$62.6

52.08%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$1.47 MX$25.45

57.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.91 MX$15.80

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.49 $5.49

$3.03 MX$52.6

81.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.47 MX$77.4

31.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.38 MX$23.83

-32.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.84 MX$31.93

119.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.61 MX$27.82

104.35%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.57 MX$44.52

77.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.92 $10.92

$8.49 MX$147

28.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.47 $11.47

$8.49 MX$147

35.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.39 $16.39

$10.99 MX$190

49.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.73 MX$47.25

62.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.50 MX$25.92

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.96 MX$33.93

126.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.12 MX$36.70

102.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.86 MX$32.30

20.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.17 MX$37.67

1.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.07 MX$18.59

85.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.05 MX$18.18

111.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.28 $7.28

$4.19 MX$72.6

73.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.40 $15.40

$10.28 MX$178

49.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.67 MX$28.87

26.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.49 MX$43.12

22.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.54 MX$9.37

264.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.10 MX$53.8

-20.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.46 MX$42.66

-31.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.24 $15.24

$3.24 MX$56.1

370.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.26 MX$21.83

-38.89%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-0.70%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

15.35%

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

$188 $188

$84.0 MX$1,456

123.53%

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

$65.1 $65.1

$22.21 MX$385

193.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$29.65 MX$514

103.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 $42.21

$52.6 MX$912

-19.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$4.95 MX$85.7

201.21%

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

$1,490 $1,490

$198 MX$3,438

650.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

347.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 $51.2

$35.95 MX$623

42.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.24 $39.24

$40.06 MX$694

-2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 $89.6

$78.8 MX$1,365

13.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$86.5 MX$1,499

61.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$977 MX$16.9K

60.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$471 MX$8,158

183.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,586 $2,586

$1,595 MX$27.6K

62.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$1,215 MX$21.1K

86.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-34.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,397 $2,397

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-63.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in Elizabeth City, NC versus $977 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 in Elizabeth City, NC versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $384 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: $2,491 in Elizabeth City, NC, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 98% apart. Elizabeth City, NC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,737 per month in Elizabeth City, NC and $1,891 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 $1,261, than in Elizabeth City, NC at $2,491. 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $2,491 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.