Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,404 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,449 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,494 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Fort Lee, NJ is roughly 161% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Fort Lee, NJ is 147% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$11.96 MX$203

110.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 $81.8

$47.38 MX$804

72.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$11.75 MX$199

-5.19%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$4.12 MX$70.0

33.98%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$1.40 MX$23.74

57.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.91 MX$15.48

67.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 $7.95

$3.21 MX$54.4

147.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.07 MX$120

10.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.68 MX$28.44

-24.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.15 MX$36.48

81.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$1.77 MX$30.10

270.62%

Eggs

$4.70 $4.70

$2.82 MX$47.76

66.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$9.20 MX$156

37.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.03 $12.03

$9.23 MX$157

30.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.50 $17.50

$12.64 MX$214

38.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$2.95 MX$50.1

80.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.58 MX$26.79

12.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.22 MX$37.70

178.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$2.36 MX$40.09

103.81%

Potato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.99 MX$33.81

104.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.98 MX$33.58

87.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.24 MX$21.04

133.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.21 MX$20.55

123.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.53 $11.53

$4.60 MX$78.1

150.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$10.52 MX$178

12.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.77 MX$47.06

-27.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.60 MX$10.22

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

$29.70 MX$504

365.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$5.24 MX$88.8

-44.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.65 MX$61.9

-44.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.29 $24.29

$5.78 MX$98.1

320.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.54 MX$26.09

-43.51%

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

$32.0K $32.0K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

40.44%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-3.40%

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

$207 $207

$90.7 MX$1,538

128.20%

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

$78.5 $78.5

$25.19 MX$427

211.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$31.75 MX$539

110.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$68.8 MX$1,167

81.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$14.56 $14.56

$4.86 MX$82.5

199.59%

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

$2,000 $2,000

$226 MX$3,828

786.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

463.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.18 $41.18

$47.38 MX$804

-13.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 $58.3

$43.45 MX$737

34.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 $76.0

$80.2 MX$1,361

-5.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 $83.8

$91.4 MX$1,550

-8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,462 $2,462

$1,086 MX$18.4K

126.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 $1,755

$409 MX$6,933

329.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,335 $5,335

$1,972 MX$33.5K

170.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,068 $4,068

$1,281 MX$21.7K

217.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,284 $4,284

$4,046 MX$68.6K

5.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,730 $3,730

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-44.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,631 $6,631

$773 MX$13.1K

757.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

11.45

-46.11%

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

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,462 in Fort Lee, NJ and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 758% 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: $82.0 in Fort Lee, NJ vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $278 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

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

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 161% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 758% higher in Fort Lee, NJ, 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: $2,462 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,404 per month in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 161% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 366% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,404 in Fort Lee, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fort Lee, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,305 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Fort Lee, NJ 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.