Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,885 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,152 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,420 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 129% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Madison, WI sits 117% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.25 $15.25

$11.72 MX$203

30.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$41.89 MX$725

81.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$10.51 MX$182

5.61%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$3.59 MX$62.0

45.96%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$1.51 MX$26.10

82.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.92 MX$15.83

147.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.96 MX$51.2

100.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.41 MX$76.3

57.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.40 MX$24.16

-37.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.88 MX$32.60

97.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$1.56 MX$26.97

230.13%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$2.61 MX$45.14

52.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$8.32 MX$144

64.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$8.35 MX$145

57.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$10.86 MX$188

51.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.71 MX$46.93

65.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.51 MX$26.04

-1.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$1.87 MX$32.41

208.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.19 MX$37.89

113.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.86 MX$32.14

39.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.23 MX$38.59

30.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.07 MX$18.48

82.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.09 MX$18.79

86.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 $10.02

$4.19 MX$72.4

139.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$10.43 MX$180

49.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.66 MX$28.68

44.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.61 MX$45.19

85.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.54 MX$9.37

274.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.9 $62.9

$26.16 MX$453

140.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.08 MX$53.3

47.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.40 MX$41.61

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.21 $42.21

$3.13 MX$54.1

1248.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.31 MX$22.69

-32.82%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-15.04%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

10.47%

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

$218 $218

$81.3 MX$1,406

168.54%

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

$50.3 $50.3

$22.56 MX$390

123.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.0 $76.0

$30.05 MX$520

152.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 $65.0

$52.9 MX$915

22.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 $29.76

$18.39 MX$318

61.83%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$4.92 MX$85.1

198.98%

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

$1,639 $1,639

$201 MX$3,474

716.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

372.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 $66.9

$35.92 MX$622

86.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 $48.80

$40.13 MX$694

21.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$79.7 MX$1,379

25.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$86.5 MX$1,496

51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,665 $1,665

$978 MX$16.9K

70.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 $1,469

$470 MX$8,140

212.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,092 $3,092

$1,651 MX$28.6K

87.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,443 $2,443

$1,203 MX$20.8K

102.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,475 $4,475

$3,953 MX$68.4K

13.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,468 $2,468

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-62.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,258 $4,258

$677 MX$11.7K

529.32%

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 Madison, WI: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,665 in Madison, WI versus $978 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 529% higher in Madison, WI, 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $252 – 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

Madison, WI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,885 in Madison, WI, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 129% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,328 per month in Madison, WI and $1,890 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.

Public transport costs about 140% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,639 per month in Madison, WI and $201 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 Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Madison, WI at $2,885. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madison, WI 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $2,885 in Madison, WI. 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, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.