Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellicott City, MD and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,213 per month in Ellicott City, MD vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ellicott City, MD costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ellicott City, MD sits 99% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.72 $19.72

$11.67 MX$202

68.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$41.88 MX$726

115.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 $9.87

$10.40 MX$180

-5.10%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.61 MX$62.6

41.55%

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

$3.20 $3.20

$1.47 MX$25.45

117.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.91 MX$15.80

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.03 MX$52.6

103.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.73 $7.73

$4.47 MX$77.4

72.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.38 MX$23.83

-15.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.84 MX$31.93

88.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.61 MX$27.82

174.53%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.57 MX$44.52

65.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.46 $17.46

$8.49 MX$147

105.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.03 $10.03

$8.49 MX$147

18.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.99 MX$190

44.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.69 $6.69

$2.73 MX$47.25

145.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.50 MX$25.92

96.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$1.96 MX$33.93

263.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$2.12 MX$36.70

153.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.86 MX$32.30

47.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.17 MX$37.67

32.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.07 MX$18.59

126.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.05 MX$18.18

154.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 $8.04

$4.19 MX$72.6

91.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.28 MX$178

45.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.67 MX$28.87

35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.49 MX$43.12

50.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.54 MX$9.37

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 $1.77

$3.10 MX$53.8

-42.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.46 MX$42.66

-45.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.48 $24.48

$3.24 MX$56.1

655.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.26 MX$21.83

-29.37%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-17.33%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

5.22%

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

$174 $174

$84.0 MX$1,456

107.75%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$22.21 MX$385

139.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.7 $78.7

$29.65 MX$514

165.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.53 $42.53

$52.6 MX$912

-19.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$15.33 $15.33

$4.95 MX$85.7

209.70%

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

$1,274 $1,274

$198 MX$3,438

542.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.8K $33.8K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

535.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.03 $47.03

$35.95 MX$623

30.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.57 $48.57

$40.06 MX$694

21.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$78.8 MX$1,365

9.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$86.5 MX$1,499

27.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,610 $1,610

$977 MX$16.9K

64.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 $1,363

$471 MX$8,158

189.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 $2,588

$1,595 MX$27.6K

62.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,229 $2,229

$1,215 MX$21.1K

83.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,663 $2,663

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-59.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,975 $4,975

$714 MX$12.4K

596.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

11.42

-42.47%

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

Last update for Ellicott City, MD: April 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,610 in Ellicott City, MD 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.

Salaries run about 597% higher in Ellicott City, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Ellicott City, MD versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $442 vs $252 – 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

Ellicott City, MD vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ellicott City, MD is pricier by about 112%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,002 per month in Ellicott City, MD 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,668 in Ellicott City, MD and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,274 per month in Ellicott City, MD and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Ellicott City, MD at $2,668. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ellicott City, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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