Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,513 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,805 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Elizabeth, NJ is roughly 156% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Elizabeth, NJ is 140% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$11.67 MX$202

71.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$41.88 MX$726

136.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.40 MX$180

14.90%

Cappuccino

$5.69 $5.69

$3.61 MX$62.6

57.62%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$1.47 MX$25.45

56.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.91 MX$15.80

70.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.03 MX$52.6

125.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$4.47 MX$77.4

54.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.38 MX$23.83

-5.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.84 MX$31.93

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$1.61 MX$27.82

254.04%

Eggs

$5.30 $5.30

$2.57 MX$44.52

106.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$8.49 MX$147

61.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$8.49 MX$147

34.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.55 $17.55

$10.99 MX$190

59.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$2.73 MX$47.25

110.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.50 MX$25.92

71.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.96 MX$33.93

115.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.12 MX$36.70

102.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.86 MX$32.30

62.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.17 MX$37.67

24.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.07 MX$18.59

164.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.05 MX$18.18

131.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.73 $14.73

$4.19 MX$72.6

251.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.28 MX$178

46.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.67 MX$28.87

56.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.49 MX$43.12

40.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.89 $2.89

$0.54 MX$9.37

435.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.1 $76.1

$26.27 MX$455

189.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.10 MX$53.8

-2.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.46 MX$42.66

-9.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.67 $42.67

$3.24 MX$56.1

1216.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.26 MX$21.83

-27.78%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-21.95%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

4.52%

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

$215 $215

$84.0 MX$1,456

155.95%

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

$52.5 $52.5

$22.21 MX$385

136.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 $58.4

$29.65 MX$514

96.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 $25.06

$52.6 MX$912

-52.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$20.19 $20.19

$4.95 MX$85.7

307.88%

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

$1,722 $1,722

$198 MX$3,438

768.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

164.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$35.95 MX$623

41.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 $59.8

$40.06 MX$694

49.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 $87.7

$78.8 MX$1,365

11.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$86.5 MX$1,499

45.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 $2,184

$977 MX$16.9K

123.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,769 $1,769

$471 MX$8,158

275.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,662 $2,662

$1,595 MX$27.6K

66.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 $2,476

$1,215 MX$21.1K

103.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,289 $1,289

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-68.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,147 $1,147

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-82.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,337 $5,337

$714 MX$12.4K

647.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: April 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 647% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $437 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

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

Elizabeth, NJ and Playa del Carmen differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($3,222 vs $1,261 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 647% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,184 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,722 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Elizabeth, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Elizabeth, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Elizabeth, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.