Cost of Living Comparison Between Harlingen, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Harlingen, TX and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Harlingen, TX is 38.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 108.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Harlingen, TX is 86.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 61.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.12 $19.12
$11.99 MX$227
59.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 $73.6
$42.47 MX$803
73.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 $11.12
$10.47 MX$198
6.21%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$3.6 MX$68.2
40.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.44 MX$27.16
77.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.89 MX$16.79
130.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$3.09 MX$58.5
91.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$4.58 MX$86.6
50.44%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.38 MX$26.04
-23.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.85 MX$34.9
84.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.57 MX$29.68
173.25%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.55 MX$48.3
67.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$8.61 MX$163
39.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$8.54 MX$161
33.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 $15.32
$10.98 MX$208
39.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.72 MX$51.4
84.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.51 MX$28.57
3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$1.88 MX$35.63
126.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.19 MX$41.42
109.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.87 MX$35.3
51.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.19 MX$41.37
27.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.07 MX$20.23
94.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$1.09 MX$20.64
92.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 $9.48
$3.96 MX$74.9
139.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.04 $12.04
$8.86 MX$167
35.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.72 MX$32.53
6.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.61 MX$49.37
29.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.52 MX$9.74
294.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.24 MX$61.2
9.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.38 MX$44.94
-33.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.61 $28.61
$3.11 MX$58.7
819.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.31 MX$24.85
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$30.3K MX$573K
-2.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$24K MX$453.6K
6.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$84.2 MX$1,592
122.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$22.14 MX$419
134.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$30.14 MX$570
128.90%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.61 $43.61
$52 MX$983
-16.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.32 $13.32
$5.07 MX$95.9
162.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$200 MX$3,787
535.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
333.85%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$35.74 MX$676
45.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.73 $39.73
$39.8 MX$753
-0.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 $87.3
$79 MX$1,493
10.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$88.4 MX$1,671
27.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$965 MX$18.3K
67.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 $1,368
$474 MX$8,968
188.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 $2,585
$1,653 MX$31.2K
56.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$1,202 MX$22.7K
81.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,855 $1,855
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-39.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,822 $1,822
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-75.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Harlingen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,663 $4,663
$792 MX$15K
488.95%
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 Harlingen, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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