Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Helena, MT is 86.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 144.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Helena, MT is 47.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 86.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$11.85 MX$212
66.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.6 $88.6
$42.16 MX$755
110.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.75 $13.75
$10.75 MX$192
27.91%
Cappuccino
$5.00 $5.00
$3.47 MX$62.2
44.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.45 MX$26.01
48.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.90 MX$16.16
96.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$3.05 MX$54.7
61.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49 $6.49
$4.42 MX$79.1
46.83%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.37 MX$24.51
-16.79%
White Bread (500g)
$4.46 $4.46
$1.87 MX$33.51
138.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.54 MX$27.63
141.56%
Eggs
$4.16 $4.16
$2.50 MX$44.81
66.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.61 $31.61
$8.61 MX$154
267.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$8.63 MX$155
10.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.08 $20.08
$11.02 MX$197
82.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.75 MX$49.22
77.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.43 MX$25.56
23.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.87 MX$33.52
135.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$2.17 MX$38.80
157.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.88 MX$33.70
17.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.25 MX$40.21
-18.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.07 MX$19.11
60.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.07 MX$19.22
111.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$4.15 MX$74.4
140.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 $13.07
$10.34 MX$185
26.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.68 MX$30.06
1.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.48 MX$44.46
1.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 $3.42
$0.55 MX$9.93
521.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$26.53 MX$475
125.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.02 $10.02
$3.22 MX$57.6
211.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.48 MX$44.42
35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.37 $44.37
$3.11 MX$55.7
1326.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.26 MX$22.48
-30.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K $36.2K
$30.7K MX$548.8K
18.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$24.0K MX$430.3K
25.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$359 $359
$82.5 MX$1,476
334.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$76.8 $76.8
$22.29 MX$399
244.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.8 $92.8
$30.02 MX$537
209.19%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 $50.9
$51.4 MX$921
-1.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.88 $14.88
$18.29 MX$327
-18.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.66 $10.66
$4.98 MX$89.2
114.06%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,915 $1,915
$200 MX$3,580
857.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$5,304 MX$94.9K
338.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 $61.4
$35.71 MX$639
71.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$119 $119
$39.56 MX$708
201.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 $89.2
$80.6 MX$1,442
10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$88.3 MX$1,581
29.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 $1,668
$969 MX$17.4K
72.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 $1,406
$482 MX$8,632
191.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,606 $2,606
$1,595 MX$28.6K
63.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$1,184 MX$21.2K
84.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,796 $3,796
$4,050 MX$72.5K
-6.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,200 $3,200
$6,522 MX$116.7K
-50.94%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Helena, MT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,847 $6,847
$756 MX$13.5K
805.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
11.42
-41.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Helena, MT: March 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities