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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,286 per month in Irving, TX vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,386 per month in Irving, TX vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,486 per month in Irving, TX vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Irving, TX costs about 81% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Irving, TX sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.85 $13.85

$11.72 MX$204

18.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 $65.9

$41.89 MX$731

57.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$10.51 MX$183

5.04%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$3.59 MX$62.5

40.67%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$1.51 MX$26.31

41.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.92 MX$15.96

38.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.96 MX$51.6

108.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.41 MX$76.9

39.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.40 MX$24.35

-33.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.88 MX$32.87

52.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.56 MX$27.19

98.08%

Eggs

$3.04 $3.04

$2.61 MX$45.50

16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.33 $10.33

$8.32 MX$145

24.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$8.35 MX$146

33.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$10.86 MX$189

5.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.71 MX$47.31

37.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.51 MX$26.25

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.87 MX$32.67

80.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.19 MX$38.19

85.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.86 MX$32.40

8.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.23 MX$38.90

-13.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.07 MX$18.63

59.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.09 MX$18.94

101.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 $8.85

$4.19 MX$73.0

111.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.43 MX$182

2.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.66 MX$28.91

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.61 MX$45.56

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 $2.99

$0.54 MX$9.45

453.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.08 MX$53.7

-9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.40 MX$41.94

-27.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$3.13 MX$54.5

868.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.31 MX$22.87

-40.46%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

1.96%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

8.82%

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

$193 $193

$81.3 MX$1,418

137.38%

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

$37.63 $37.63

$22.56 MX$393

66.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$30.05 MX$524

125.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.63 $40.63

$52.9 MX$923

-23.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 $15.02

$4.92 MX$85.8

205.28%

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

$1,607 $1,607

$201 MX$3,502

700.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

345.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 $54.0

$35.92 MX$627

50.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.73 $24.73

$40.13 MX$700

-38.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 $58.9

$79.7 MX$1,390

-26.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 $98.5

$86.5 MX$1,508

13.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 $1,390

$978 MX$17.1K

42.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$470 MX$8,206

154.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,651 MX$28.8K

58.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,046 $2,046

$1,203 MX$21.0K

69.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,608 $3,608

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-8.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,379 $2,379

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-64.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,442 $4,442

$677 MX$11.8K

556.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.42

-43.52%

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

Last update for Irving, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,390 in Irving, TX versus $978 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 557% higher in Irving, TX, 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 $66.0 in Irving, TX versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 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

Irving, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Irving, TX costs about 81% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,430 per month in Irving, TX and $1,890 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 $2,286 in Irving, TX and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,607 per month in Irving, TX and $201 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 $1,260, than in Irving, TX at $2,286. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Irving, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $2,286 in Irving, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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