Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Island, NE and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Island, NE and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,547 per month in Grand Island, NE vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,771 per month in Grand Island, NE vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,994 per month in Grand Island, NE vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Grand Island, NE costs about 102% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Grand Island, NE sits 90% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 $18.82

$11.67 MX$202

61.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$41.88 MX$726

80.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$10.40 MX$180

4.81%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$3.61 MX$62.6

44.88%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$1.47 MX$25.45

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.91 MX$15.80

121.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$3.03 MX$52.6

98.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 $7.10

$4.47 MX$77.4

58.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.38 MX$23.83

-28.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.84 MX$31.93

89.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$1.61 MX$27.82

169.57%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.57 MX$44.52

63.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$8.49 MX$147

42.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.28 $11.28

$8.49 MX$147

32.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.99 MX$190

38.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.73 MX$47.25

75.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.50 MX$25.92

9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.96 MX$33.93

117.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.12 MX$36.70

119.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.86 MX$32.30

54.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.17 MX$37.67

28.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.07 MX$18.59

97.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.05 MX$18.18

100.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.32 $9.32

$4.19 MX$72.6

122.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.83 $13.83

$10.28 MX$178

34.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.67 MX$28.87

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.49 MX$43.12

36.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.54 MX$9.37

274.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.10 MX$53.8

10.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.46 MX$42.66

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.86 $28.86

$3.24 MX$56.1

790.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.26 MX$21.83

-30.16%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-2.76%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

9.13%

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

$191 $191

$84.0 MX$1,456

127.25%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$22.21 MX$385

135.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$29.65 MX$514

126.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.30 $42.30

$52.6 MX$912

-19.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$13.27 $13.27

$4.95 MX$85.7

168.08%

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

$1,318 $1,318

$198 MX$3,438

564.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

348.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$35.95 MX$623

43.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.34 $39.34

$40.06 MX$694

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$78.8 MX$1,365

8.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$86.5 MX$1,499

31.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$977 MX$16.9K

60.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 $1,359

$471 MX$8,158

188.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,612 $2,612

$1,595 MX$27.6K

63.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,193 $2,193

$1,215 MX$21.1K

80.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,770 $2,770

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-31.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,469 $2,469

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-62.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

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 Grand Island, NE: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,571 in Grand Island, NE 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Grand Island, NE versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 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

Grand Island, NE vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Grand Island, NE is pricier by about 102%, 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 $3,820 per month in Grand Island, NE 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Grand Island, NE and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Grand Island, NE, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Grand Island, NE at $2,547. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Island, NE 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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