Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,473 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,579 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,686 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 96% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Highlands Ranch, CO sits 85% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.03 $15.03

$11.67 MX$202

28.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.2 $73.2

$41.88 MX$726

74.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.40 MX$180

-2.60%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$3.61 MX$62.6

33.24%

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

$1.95 $1.95

$1.47 MX$25.45

32.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.91 MX$15.80

163.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.03 MX$52.6

67.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.47 MX$77.4

33.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.38 MX$23.83

-23.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.84 MX$31.93

67.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.61 MX$27.82

106.21%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.57 MX$44.52

64.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$8.49 MX$147

29.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.19 $7.19

$8.49 MX$147

-15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$10.99 MX$190

51.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.73 MX$47.25

45.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.50 MX$25.92

-0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$1.96 MX$33.93

114.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.12 MX$36.70

140.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.86 MX$32.30

27.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.17 MX$37.67

-13.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.07 MX$18.59

134.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.05 MX$18.18

95.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$4.19 MX$72.6

126.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.76 $17.76

$10.28 MX$178

72.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.67 MX$28.87

35.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.49 MX$43.12

6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.54 MX$9.37

264.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.10 MX$53.8

-21.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.46 MX$42.66

-43.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.62 $24.62

$3.24 MX$56.1

659.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.26 MX$21.83

-30.95%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-9.79%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

10.30%

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

$168 $168

$84.0 MX$1,456

99.68%

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

$42.35 $42.35

$22.21 MX$385

90.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$29.65 MX$514

160.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.10 $43.10

$52.6 MX$912

-18.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$4.95 MX$85.7

140.40%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$198 MX$3,438

669.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K $12.4K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

133.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$35.95 MX$623

68.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.1 $91.1

$40.06 MX$694

127.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$78.8 MX$1,365

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$86.5 MX$1,499

23.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$977 MX$16.9K

62.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,370 $1,370

$471 MX$8,158

190.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$1,595 MX$27.6K

64.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,225 $2,225

$1,215 MX$21.1K

83.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,346 $2,346

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-41.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,212 $2,212

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-66.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,560 $7,560

$714 MX$12.4K

958.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

11.42

-42.29%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,584 in Highlands Ranch, CO 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.

Salaries run about 959% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $73 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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

Highlands Ranch, CO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 96% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,709 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $198 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 $1,261, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,473. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $2,473 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.