๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,603 in Enfield versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,811 in Enfield versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,019 in Enfield versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Enfield is roughly 106% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Enfield is 94% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.33$19.33
$11.67MX$202
65.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5$75.5
$41.88MX$726
80.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15$11.15
$10.40MX$180
7.21%
Cappuccino
$5.13$5.13
$3.61MX$62.6
42.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$1.47MX$25.45
68.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.91MX$15.80
125.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86$5.86
$3.03MX$52.6
93.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98$6.98
$4.47MX$77.4
56.15%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.38MX$23.83
-24.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57$3.57
$1.84MX$31.93
94.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$1.61MX$27.82
167.70%
Eggs
$4.10$4.10
$2.57MX$44.52
59.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.29$12.29
$8.49MX$147
44.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56$11.56
$8.49MX$147
36.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.61$15.61
$10.99MX$190
42.04%
Apples(1kg)
$5.03$5.03
$2.73MX$47.25
84.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.50MX$25.92
5.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.96MX$33.93
120.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.71$4.71
$2.12MX$36.70
122.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.88$2.88
$1.86MX$32.30
54.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.17MX$37.67
33.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.07MX$18.59
94.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$1.05MX$18.18
100.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47$9.47
$4.19MX$72.6
126.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.01$15.01
$10.28MX$178
46.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.67MX$28.87
10.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34$3.34
$2.49MX$43.12
34.14%
๐ Getting Around
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$0.54MX$9.37
259.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40$3.40
$3.10MX$53.8
9.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$2.46MX$42.66
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.04$29.04
$3.24MX$56.1
796.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26MX$21.83
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K$30.1K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
9.65%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185$185
$84.0MX$1,456
119.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1$52.1
$22.21MX$385
134.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.7$66.7
$29.65MX$514
124.99%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28$42.28
$52.6MX$912
-19.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.4$50.4
$18.34MX$318
174.54%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77$13.77
$4.95MX$85.7
178.18%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,313$1,313
$198MX$3,438
561.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$5,322MX$92.2K
342.43%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3$51.3
$35.95MX$623
42.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.98$39.98
$40.06MX$694
-0.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8$86.8
$78.8MX$1,365
10.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$86.5MX$1,499
31.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,573$1,573
$977MX$16.9K
61.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,358$1,358
$471MX$8,158
188.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,666$2,666
$1,595MX$27.6K
67.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,219$2,219
$1,215MX$21.1K
82.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,527$2,527
$4,032MX$69.9K
-37.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,164$2,164
$6,579MX$114.0K
-67.11%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,556$5,556
$714MX$12.4K
677.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Enfield: April 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,573 in Enfield and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐEnfield pays 678% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $75 in Enfield vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 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
Enfield vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Enfield or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ living expenses run 106% lower than in Enfield. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Enfield or Playa del Carmen?
Enfield pays 678% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Enfield vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,573 in Enfield versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Enfield and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,313 in Enfield versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Enfield vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $75.0 in Enfield. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Enfield or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,603 in Enfield, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Enfield. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Enfield or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Enfield compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Enfield and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 106% less than in Enfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.