Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,071 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,272 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM is about 17% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Los Alamos, NM and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Los Alamos, NM 22% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$11.71 MX$198

42.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.36 $40.36

$46.59 MX$787

-13.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.65 MX$197

-14.85%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$4.09 MX$69.1

24.94%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.37 MX$23.21

84.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.83 MX$14.08

75.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.35 MX$56.6

83.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$6.91 MX$117

0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.73 MX$29.16

-49.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.26 MX$38.17

-1.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.77 MX$29.88

156.50%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.73 MX$46.14

43.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.18 MX$155

29.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$8.92 MX$151

3.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$12.60 MX$213

39.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.02 MX$51.0

55.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.57 MX$26.52

-8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.13 MX$35.89

36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.26 MX$38.23

96.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.00 MX$33.84

-44.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.06 MX$34.86

63.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.18 MX$19.92

65.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.20 MX$20.33

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.49 $10.49

$4.63 MX$78.3

126.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$10.69 MX$180

29.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.62 MX$27.35

53.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.88 MX$48.65

24.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 $3.70

$5.45 MX$92.0

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.70 MX$62.6

-45.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.94 $31.94

$5.98 MX$101

434.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.55 MX$26.23

-45.81%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$22.3K MX$377.0K

38.15%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$25.9K MX$438.2K

-5.14%

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

$155 $155

$89.1 MX$1,505

73.49%

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

$40.16 $40.16

$25.04 MX$423

60.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$31.50 MX$532

132.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,145

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$5.05 MX$85.3

160.20%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$225 MX$3,798

554.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$4,222 MX$71.3K

498.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 $19.97

$47.44 MX$801

-57.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$44.98 MX$759

-4.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$82.0 MX$1,384

25.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$92.1 MX$1,555

27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 $1,103

$1,069 MX$18.1K

3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,844

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,325 $3,325

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-16.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 $3,336

$6,626 MX$111.9K

-49.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,216 $8,216

$749 MX$12.6K

997.30%

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 Los Alamos, NM: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Los Alamos, NM versus $1,069 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 997% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $336 in Los Alamos, NM vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Los Alamos, NM vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,607 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $1,940 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 Los Alamos, NM, 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 $1,071 in Los Alamos, NM and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,473 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $225 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 Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,071, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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