Cost of Living Comparison Between Ithaca, NY and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ithaca, NY and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,893 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,775 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,657 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ithaca, NY costs about 122% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ithaca, NY sits 110% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.05 $22.05

$11.96 MX$203

84.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$47.38 MX$804

70.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 $10.94

$11.75 MX$199

-6.89%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.12 MX$70.0

24.27%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$1.40 MX$23.74

87.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.91 MX$15.48

121.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.21 MX$54.4

52.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.07 MX$120

30.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.68 MX$28.44

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.15 MX$36.48

55.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$1.77 MX$30.10

197.18%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$2.82 MX$47.76

42.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.20 MX$156

55.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$9.23 MX$157

-30.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$12.64 MX$214

21.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.95 MX$50.1

63.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 MX$26.79

4.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$2.22 MX$37.70

150.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.36 MX$40.09

105.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.99 MX$33.81

60.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.98 MX$33.58

79.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.24 MX$21.04

78.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.21 MX$20.55

67.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.81 $8.81

$4.60 MX$78.1

91.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.52 MX$178

32.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.69 MX$28.70

4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.77 MX$47.06

42.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.60 MX$10.22

185.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.21 $45.21

$29.70 MX$504

52.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.24 MX$88.8

-3.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$3.65 MX$61.9

-62.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 $29.47

$5.78 MX$98.1

409.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.54 MX$26.09

-31.82%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

58.00%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-0.44%

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

$169 $169

$90.7 MX$1,538

86.61%

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

$46.97 $46.97

$25.19 MX$427

86.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.10 $49.10

$31.75 MX$539

54.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.76 $34.76

$68.8 MX$1,167

-49.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$10.93 $10.93

$4.86 MX$82.5

124.90%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$226 MX$3,828

574.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K $16.8K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

301.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.26 $47.26

$47.38 MX$804

-0.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.97 $39.97

$43.45 MX$737

-8.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 $79.9

$80.2 MX$1,361

-0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$91.4 MX$1,550

18.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,142 $2,142

$1,086 MX$18.4K

97.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,686 $1,686

$409 MX$6,933

312.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$1,972 MX$33.5K

34.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 $1,898

$1,281 MX$21.7K

48.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,132 $2,132

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-47.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,146 $2,146

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-67.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,385 $3,385

$773 MX$13.1K

337.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

11.45

-46.55%

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

Last update for Ithaca, NY: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,142 in Ithaca, NY 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 338% higher in Ithaca, NY, 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 $81.0 in Ithaca, NY versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $278 – 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

Ithaca, NY vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,893 in Ithaca, NY, $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 122% apart. Ithaca, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,339 per month in Ithaca, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Ithaca, NY and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,893 in Ithaca, NY and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,893. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ithaca, NY 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen to $2,893 in Ithaca, NY. 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, Ithaca, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.