😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,570 in Enfield versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,741 in Enfield versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,912 in Enfield versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Enfield is roughly 104% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Enfield is 92% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.13$19.13
$11.95MX$208
60.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8$75.8
$41.94MX$730
80.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81$10.81
$10.42MX$181
3.74%
Cappuccino
$4.99$4.99
$3.51MX$61.2
42.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$1.52MX$26.39
62.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$0.91MX$15.84
124.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12$6.12
$3.04MX$52.9
101.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13$7.13
$4.37MX$76.1
63.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.42MX$24.73
-26.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$1.83MX$31.87
86.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$1.63MX$28.45
173.01%
Eggs
$4.32$4.32
$2.54MX$44.20
70.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.41$12.41
$8.57MX$149
44.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.28$11.28
$8.49MX$148
32.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.34$15.34
$10.80MX$188
42.04%
Apples(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$2.75MX$47.94
79.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.44MX$25.00
11.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$1.89MX$32.83
126.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.75$4.75
$2.17MX$37.77
118.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.88$2.88
$1.78MX$30.97
61.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$2.22MX$38.71
24.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$1.07MX$18.60
90.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.08MX$18.79
94.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62$9.62
$4.15MX$72.2
131.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.96$14.96
$10.45MX$182
43.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83$1.83
$1.74MX$30.34
5.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40$3.40
$2.58MX$44.92
31.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.51MX$8.94
301.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.94MX$451
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$3.21MX$55.9
10.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$2.50MX$43.55
-36.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.39$29.39
$3.19MX$55.4
821.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26MX$21.87
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
0.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
8.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186$186
$82.0MX$1,427
127.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$22.73MX$395
136.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9$68.9
$29.42MX$512
134.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.49$43.49
$52.2MX$908
-16.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.02$49.02
$18.45MX$321
165.69%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73$13.73
$4.93MX$85.9
178.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,324$1,324
$202MX$3,511
555.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$5,217MX$90.8K
344.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2$51.2
$35.93MX$625
42.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.57$40.57
$40.33MX$702
0.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3$88.3
$79.9MX$1,390
10.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$89.3MX$1,554
24.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,594$1,594
$948MX$16.5K
68.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,353$1,353
$465MX$8,097
190.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,664$2,664
$1,630MX$28.4K
63.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,240$2,240
$1,193MX$20.8K
87.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,432$2,432
$3,933MX$68.4K
-38.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,102$2,102
$6,428MX$111.9K
-67.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Enfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,495$5,495
$658MX$11.5K
734.81%
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 Enfield: July 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,594 in Enfield and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Enfield pays 735% 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: $76.0 in Enfield vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 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 – living expenses run 104% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 735% higher in Enfield, 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,594 in Enfield versus $948 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,324 in Enfield versus $202 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $76.0 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,570 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,259 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 – expenses run 104% less than in Enfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.