Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, NC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, NC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,388 in Jacksonville, NC versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,366 in Jacksonville, NC versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,344 in Jacksonville, NC versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Jacksonville, NC is roughly 83% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jacksonville, NC is 73% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.40 $15.40

$11.96 MX$203

28.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 $55.8

$47.38 MX$804

17.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.75 MX$199

-15.32%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$4.12 MX$70.0

17.48%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$1.40 MX$23.74

81.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$0.91 MX$15.48

95.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.21 MX$54.4

53.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.07 MX$120

-1.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.68 MX$28.44

-30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.15 MX$36.48

48.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.77 MX$30.10

153.11%

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$2.82 MX$47.76

117.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.78 $19.78

$9.20 MX$156

115.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.87 $16.87

$9.23 MX$157

82.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.56 $27.56

$12.64 MX$214

118.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.95 MX$50.1

-26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.58 MX$26.79

49.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$2.22 MX$37.70

275.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$2.36 MX$40.09

155.93%

Potato (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$1.99 MX$33.81

246.23%

Onion (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$1.98 MX$33.58

103.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.24 MX$21.04

140.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.21 MX$20.55

62.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.60 MX$78.1

71.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.04 $14.04

$10.52 MX$178

33.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.69 MX$28.70

4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.77 MX$47.06

85.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$5.24 MX$88.8

-53.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.54 MX$26.09

-43.51%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

58.15%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-5.22%

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

$172 $172

$90.7 MX$1,538

89.65%

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

$73.9 $73.9

$25.19 MX$427

193.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$31.75 MX$539

119.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 $37.91

$68.8 MX$1,167

-44.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.64 $1.64

$29.37 MX$498

-94.42%

Cinema Ticket

$13.87 $13.87

$4.86 MX$82.5

185.39%

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

$717 $717

$226 MX$3,828

217.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.57 $30.57

$47.38 MX$804

-35.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.22 $40.22

$43.45 MX$737

-7.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.4 $81.4

$80.2 MX$1,361

1.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 $75.3

$91.4 MX$1,550

-17.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$1,086 MX$18.4K

26.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,076 $1,076

$409 MX$6,933

163.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,910 $1,910

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-3.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 $1,564

$1,281 MX$21.7K

22.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,942 $1,942

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-52.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,707 $6,707

$6,704 MX$113.7K

0.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,215 $2,215

$773 MX$13.1K

186.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

11.45

-46.72%

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

Last update for Jacksonville, NC: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,375 in Jacksonville, NC and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jacksonville, NC pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $56.0 in Jacksonville, NC vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $512 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Jacksonville, NC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jacksonville, NC and Playa del Carmen differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($2,388 vs $1,305 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 186% higher in Jacksonville, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,375 in Jacksonville, NC versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $717 in Jacksonville, NC versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $56.0 in Jacksonville, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,388 in Jacksonville, NC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jacksonville, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Jacksonville, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.