Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Laurel, MD and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,693 in Laurel, MD versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,269 in Laurel, MD versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,844 in Laurel, MD versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Laurel, MD is roughly 113% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Laurel, MD is 100% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 $12.20

$11.61 MX$201

5.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 $50.9

$42.75 MX$742

19.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.60 MX$184

-4.06%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$3.59 MX$62.3

36.49%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$1.45 MX$25.21

41.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.90 MX$15.58

127.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.46 $6.46

$3.03 MX$52.6

113.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.68 $7.68

$4.56 MX$79.2

68.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.45 MX$25.20

-31.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.83 MX$31.72

96.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$1.61 MX$27.92

355.28%

Eggs

$3.89 $3.89

$2.54 MX$44.05

53.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$8.54 MX$148

119.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$8.47 MX$147

134.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$10.86 MX$189

23.30%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$2.73 MX$47.37

130.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.49 MX$25.91

93.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.21 $8.21

$1.94 MX$33.73

323.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$2.16 MX$37.57

405.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.85 MX$32.05

51.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.19 MX$38.00

-1.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.07 MX$18.62

168.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.08 MX$18.81

173.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.06 MX$70.5

93.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 $17.70

$10.46 MX$182

69.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.65 MX$28.71

3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.55 MX$44.23

48.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.56 MX$9.65

258.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.14 MX$54.5

42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.37 MX$41.17

-31.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 $29.47

$3.24 MX$56.2

809.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.31 MX$22.81

-35.88%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

-13.70%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

4.62%

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

$161 $161

$83.1 MX$1,443

93.84%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$22.15 MX$385

140.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$29.37 MX$510

125.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 $42.51

$51.2 MX$889

-16.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$12.99 $12.99

$4.89 MX$84.9

165.64%

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

$1,821 $1,821

$199 MX$3,449

816.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

351.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.55 $38.55

$35.93 MX$624

7.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.63 $29.63

$39.39 MX$684

-24.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$80.3 MX$1,394

12.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$87.6 MX$1,520

38.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,582 $1,582

$963 MX$16.7K

64.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 $1,390

$482 MX$8,370

188.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$1,645 MX$28.6K

59.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,989 $2,989

$1,192 MX$20.7K

150.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 $2,195

$3,957 MX$68.7K

-44.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,502 $2,502

$6,513 MX$113.1K

-61.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,346 $5,346

$726 MX$12.6K

636.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.42

-42.64%

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

Last update for Laurel, MD: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,582 in Laurel, MD and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Laurel, MD pays 636% 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: $51 in Laurel, MD vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $534 vs $253 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

Laurel, MD vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Laurel, MD and Playa del Carmen differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($2,693 vs $1,262 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Laurel, MD pays 636% 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: $1,582 in Laurel, MD versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 111% higher in Laurel, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,693 per month in Laurel, MD versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Laurel, MD. 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 113% less than in Laurel, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.