Cost of Living Comparison Between Jersey City, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Jersey City, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,885 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,471 in Jersey City, NJ versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,056 in Jersey City, NJ versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Jersey City, NJ is roughly 200% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jersey City, NJ is 190% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$11.73 MX$203

67.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$41.62 MX$720

139.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.11 $14.11

$10.64 MX$184

32.61%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$3.52 MX$60.9

48.86%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$1.51 MX$26.12

56.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.97 MX$16.84

91.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$2.95 MX$51.0

133.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$4.45 MX$77.0

105.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.38 MX$23.93

-6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.89 MX$32.72

97.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$1.64 MX$28.32

227.44%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$2.51 MX$43.34

96.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.69 $21.69

$8.34 MX$144

160.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.00 $12.00

$8.34 MX$144

43.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.44 $17.44

$10.73 MX$186

62.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.60 MX$45.04

85.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.46 MX$25.20

21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.90 MX$32.87

112.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$2.08 MX$35.91

99.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.78 MX$30.71

56.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.19 MX$37.80

74.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.04 MX$17.99

139.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.08 MX$18.62

149.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.00 $12.00

$4.08 MX$70.6

194.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.32 MX$178

44.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.71 MX$29.61

2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$2.58 MX$44.54

131.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.51 MX$8.81

454.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.8 $95.8

$26.46 MX$458

262.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.26 MX$56.4

-9.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.49 MX$43.09

-28.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.61 $23.61

$3.25 MX$56.2

626.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.31 MX$22.61

-35.11%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

16.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

9.49%

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

$127 $127

$82.9 MX$1,433

53.52%

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

$44.25 $44.25

$22.22 MX$384

99.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$29.34 MX$507

117.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 $79.5

$51.6 MX$893

53.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.42 $43.42

$18.32 MX$317

137.01%

Cinema Ticket

$16.83 $16.83

$5.07 MX$87.6

231.95%

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

$2,218 $2,218

$201 MX$3,473

1004.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

357.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 $74.6

$36.92 MX$639

102.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.6 $63.6

$39.79 MX$688

59.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 $73.5

$78.5 MX$1,357

-6.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$87.1 MX$1,506

51.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,350 $3,350

$973 MX$16.8K

244.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,480 $2,480

$468 MX$8,090

430.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,189 $6,189

$1,641 MX$28.4K

277.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,648 $3,648

$1,221 MX$21.1K

198.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,951 $7,951

$3,946 MX$68.3K

101.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,557 $5,557

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-14.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,308 $6,308

$664 MX$11.5K

850.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

11.42

-42.03%

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

Last update for Jersey City, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,350 in Jersey City, NJ and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jersey City, NJ pays 850% 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: $100 in Jersey City, NJ vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $249 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

Jersey City, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 200% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Jersey City, NJ pays 850% more on average, 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: $3,350 in Jersey City, NJ versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 262% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,218 in Jersey City, NJ versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,885 in Jersey City, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jersey City, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jersey City, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.