Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,232 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,065 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,898 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Idaho Falls, ID costs about 71% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Idaho Falls, ID sits 62% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.96 $17.96

$11.96 MX$203

50.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.57 $49.57

$47.38 MX$804

4.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$11.75 MX$199

-14.47%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$4.12 MX$70.0

23.30%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$1.40 MX$23.74

58.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.91 MX$15.48

75.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.21 MX$54.4

36.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$7.07 MX$120

-1.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.68 MX$28.44

-57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.15 MX$36.48

75.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.77 MX$30.10

70.62%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.82 MX$47.76

48.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.20 MX$156

30.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$9.23 MX$157

-29.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.20 $10.20

$12.64 MX$214

-19.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.95 MX$50.1

-25.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.58 MX$26.79

-24.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.22 MX$37.70

-7.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.36 MX$40.09

-10.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.99 MX$33.81

-18.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 MX$33.58

28.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.24 MX$21.04

57.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.21 MX$20.55

53.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 $10.31

$4.60 MX$78.1

124.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 $7.65

$10.52 MX$178

-27.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.69 MX$28.70

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.77 MX$47.06

-45.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.60 MX$10.22

395.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 $2.49

$5.24 MX$88.8

-52.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.65 MX$61.9

-38.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.61 $24.61

$5.78 MX$98.1

325.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.54 MX$26.09

-35.06%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

57.47%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-2.00%

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

$165 $165

$90.7 MX$1,538

82.24%

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

$46.50 $46.50

$25.19 MX$427

84.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.22 $49.22

$31.75 MX$539

55.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.08 $38.08

$68.8 MX$1,167

-44.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 $11.28

$4.86 MX$82.5

132.10%

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

$967 $967

$226 MX$3,828

328.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K $20.5K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

388.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.51 $41.51

$47.38 MX$804

-12.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.61 $44.61

$43.45 MX$737

2.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 $70.4

$80.2 MX$1,361

-12.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 $93.4

$91.4 MX$1,550

2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 $1,117

$1,086 MX$18.4K

2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 $1,183

$409 MX$6,933

189.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 $1,656

$1,281 MX$21.7K

29.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,850 $1,850

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-54.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,849 $1,849

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-72.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,458 $3,458

$773 MX$13.1K

347.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

11.45

-47.25%

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

Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $1,086 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 347% higher in Idaho Falls, ID, 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 $50.0 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Idaho Falls, ID vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Idaho Falls, ID wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Idaho Falls, ID vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Idaho Falls, ID is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,348 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,958 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 $2,232 in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $967 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $226 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 $1,305, than in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,232. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Idaho Falls, ID 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.

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