Cost of Living Comparison Between Flagstaff, AZ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Flagstaff, AZ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,946 per month in Flagstaff, AZ vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,155 per month in Flagstaff, AZ vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,364 per month in Flagstaff, AZ vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Flagstaff, AZ costs about 135% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Flagstaff, AZ sits 120% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 $17.95

$11.99 MX$210

49.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.9 $76.9

$41.78 MX$733

83.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 $9.96

$10.75 MX$189

-7.35%

Cappuccino

$4.46 $4.46

$3.50 MX$61.3

27.43%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$1.45 MX$25.41

100.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.88 MX$15.52

139.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 $7.36

$2.95 MX$51.7

149.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.67 $7.67

$4.51 MX$79.1

70.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.43 MX$25.12

-26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.84 MX$32.23

40.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.57 MX$27.51

168.79%

Eggs

$3.57 $3.57

$2.51 MX$44.06

42.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.26 $19.26

$8.28 MX$145

132.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.36 $9.36

$8.43 MX$148

11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 $13.10

$10.68 MX$187

22.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.61 MX$45.76

49.04%

Banana (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.44 MX$25.22

141.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$1.96 MX$34.41

96.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.09 MX$36.74

131.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.85 MX$32.47

43.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.17 MX$38.02

10.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.03 MX$18.09

91.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.07 MX$18.84

56.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$4.10 MX$72.0

116.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.93 $13.93

$10.17 MX$178

36.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.68 MX$29.38

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.53 MX$44.31

-2.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.51 MX$8.93

198.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.50 $31.50

$26.04 MX$457

20.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.23 MX$56.7

5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.41 MX$42.19

-42.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.63 $28.63

$3.23 MX$56.6

786.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.32 MX$23.17

-33.33%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-13.22%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

8.36%

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

$181 $181

$82.0 MX$1,439

120.27%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$22.95 MX$403

128.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$30.11 MX$528

147.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 $67.8

$52.0 MX$912

30.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$13.62 $13.62

$4.98 MX$87.3

173.49%

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

$1,202 $1,202

$197 MX$3,463

508.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

337.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 $45.25

$35.60 MX$624

27.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.15 $35.15

$40.33 MX$707

-12.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 $68.6

$78.8 MX$1,381

-12.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$88.9 MX$1,560

42.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 $1,943

$947 MX$16.6K

105.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 $1,645

$474 MX$8,314

247.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,265 $3,265

$1,644 MX$28.8K

98.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$1,211 MX$21.2K

110.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,681 $4,681

$4,056 MX$71.1K

15.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,332 $4,332

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-33.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,853 $3,853

$654 MX$11.5K

489.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

11.42

-43.26%

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

Last update for Flagstaff, AZ: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,943 in Flagstaff, AZ versus $947 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 489% higher in Flagstaff, AZ, 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 $77.0 in Flagstaff, AZ versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $249 – 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

Flagstaff, AZ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Flagstaff, AZ costs about 135% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,418 per month in Flagstaff, AZ and $1,884 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.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,202 per month in Flagstaff, AZ and $197 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 $1,256, than in Flagstaff, AZ at $2,946. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Flagstaff, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $2,946 in Flagstaff, AZ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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