Cost of Living Comparison Between Manteca, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Manteca, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,579 per month in Manteca, CA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,636 per month in Manteca, CA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,693 per month in Manteca, CA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Manteca, CA costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manteca, CA sits 93% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 $14.77

$11.94 MX$208

23.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.86 $36.86

$42.75 MX$744

-13.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$10.59 MX$184

31.92%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$3.62 MX$63.0

40.06%

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

$3.70 $3.70

$1.47 MX$25.54

151.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.94 MX$16.41

171.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.11 $9.11

$3.09 MX$53.8

194.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$4.46 MX$77.6

97.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.43 MX$24.80

-6.99%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$1.88 MX$32.79

142.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.63 MX$28.34

89.57%

Eggs

$5.27 $5.27

$2.64 MX$45.99

99.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 $11.17

$8.21 MX$143

36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$8.29 MX$144

33.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 $12.70

$11.10 MX$193

14.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.65 MX$46.14

72.45%

Banana (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.50 MX$26.11

162.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.99 MX$34.59

126.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.08 MX$36.13

134.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.79 MX$31.11

65.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.18 MX$37.87

55.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.08 MX$18.73

158.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.04 MX$18.04

157.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.73 $8.73

$3.97 MX$69.1

119.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.75 $14.75

$10.20 MX$178

44.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.73 MX$30.04

25.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.50 MX$43.46

-6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.52 MX$9.02

294.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.14 MX$54.7

42.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.40 MX$41.80

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.14 $30.14

$3.09 MX$53.7

875.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.27 MX$22.16

-4.72%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-3.34%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

16.02%

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

$222 $222

$82.0 MX$1,427

171.28%

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

$38.27 $38.27

$22.45 MX$391

70.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$29.66 MX$516

108.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.57 $43.57

$51.9 MX$903

-16.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$17.75 $17.75

$4.97 MX$86.5

257.14%

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

$1,173 $1,173

$198 MX$3,442

492.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

349.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$36.34 MX$632

53.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.71 $40.71

$40.05 MX$697

1.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 $77.4

$79.9 MX$1,390

-3.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.2 $79.2

$88.9 MX$1,547

-10.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$963 MX$16.8K

68.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 $1,335

$465 MX$8,086

187.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,596 MX$27.8K

62.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$1,209 MX$21.0K

80.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,393 $2,393

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-39.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 $2,192

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-66.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,041 $5,041

$720 MX$12.5K

599.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

11.42

-41.59%

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

Last update for Manteca, CA: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,623 in Manteca, CA versus $963 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 600% higher in Manteca, CA, 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 $37.00 in Manteca, CA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $412 in Manteca, CA vs $251 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

Manteca, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manteca, CA is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,869 per month in Manteca, CA and $1,930 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Manteca, CA and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% more in Manteca, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Manteca, CA at $2,579. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manteca, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manteca, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.