Cost of Living Comparison Between McAllen, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between McAllen, TX and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: McAllen, TX is 19.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: McAllen, TX is 46% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.67 $14.67
$11.99 MX$227
22.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69 $69
$42.47 MX$803
62.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.2 $8.2
$10.47 MX$198
-21.68%
Cappuccino
$4.31 $4.31
$3.6 MX$68.2
19.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.44 MX$27.16
81.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.89 MX$16.79
120.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.09 MX$58.5
65.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 $5.96
$4.58 MX$86.6
30.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.38 MX$26.04
-36.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.85 MX$34.9
69.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.57 MX$29.68
100.64%
Eggs
$3.2 $3.2
$2.55 MX$48.3
25.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.78 $9.78
$8.61 MX$163
13.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.78 $9.78
$8.54 MX$161
14.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.59 $15.59
$10.98 MX$208
41.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.72 MX$51.4
68.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.51 MX$28.57
-3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.88 MX$35.63
85.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.19 MX$41.42
9.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.87 MX$35.3
43.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.19 MX$41.37
31.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.07 MX$20.23
55.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.09 MX$20.64
91.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.58 $8.58
$3.96 MX$74.9
116.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.2 $12.2
$8.86 MX$167
37.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.72 MX$32.53
19.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.61 MX$49.37
-5.75%
🚌 Getting Around
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.52 MX$9.74
86.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.1 $4.1
$3.24 MX$61.2
26.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 $0.77
$2.38 MX$44.94
-67.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.41 $29.41
$3.11 MX$58.7
845.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.31 MX$24.85
-43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29K $29K
$30.3K MX$573K
-4.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K $22.1K
$24K MX$453.6K
-7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$84.2 MX$1,592
108.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.01 $39.01
$22.14 MX$419
76.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.9 $73.9
$30.14 MX$570
145.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.72 $44.72
$52 MX$983
-13.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.06 $12.06
$5.07 MX$95.9
137.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$892 $892
$200 MX$3,787
345.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
345.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 $68.8
$35.74 MX$676
92.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.94 $43.94
$39.8 MX$753
10.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 $74.9
$79 MX$1,493
-5.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.3 $95.3
$88.4 MX$1,671
7.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$819 $819
$965 MX$18.3K
-15.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 $697
$474 MX$8,968
46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-16.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 $1,137
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-5.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,699 $1,699
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-44.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,681 $1,681
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-77.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McAllen, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,757 $3,757
$792 MX$15K
374.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
11.42
-42.29%

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

Last update for McAllen, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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