Cost of Living Comparison Between McKeesport, PA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between McKeesport, PA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,685 in McKeesport, PA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in McKeesport, PA versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,123 in McKeesport, PA versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in McKeesport, PA is roughly 107% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: McKeesport, PA is 100% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.72 $18.72
$11.73 MX$205
59.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$41.62 MX$727
78.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 $10.88
$10.64 MX$186
2.26%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$3.52 MX$61.5
43.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.51 MX$26.37
72.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.97 MX$17.00
104.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.95 MX$51.5
108.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$4.45 MX$77.8
53.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.38 MX$24.16
-24.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.89 MX$33.04
83.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$1.64 MX$28.59
170.73%
Eggs
$4.31 $4.31
$2.51 MX$43.76
71.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.48 $12.48
$8.34 MX$146
49.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.48 $11.48
$8.34 MX$146
37.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.61 $15.61
$10.73 MX$187
45.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.02 $5.02
$2.60 MX$45.48
93.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.46 MX$25.45
7.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.90 MX$33.19
127.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$2.08 MX$36.26
123.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.78 MX$31.01
57.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.19 MX$38.16
27.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.04 MX$18.16
100.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.08 MX$18.80
104.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62 $9.62
$4.08 MX$71.3
135.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.80 $14.80
$10.32 MX$180
43.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.71 MX$29.90
2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.58 MX$44.98
31.01%
🚌 Getting Around
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.51 MX$8.90
296.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$26.46 MX$462
180.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.26 MX$57.0
4.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$2.49 MX$43.51
-35.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.01 $29.01
$3.25 MX$56.7
792.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.31 MX$22.83
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$30.3K MX$528.8K
-3.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$23.4K MX$409.2K
10.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$82.9 MX$1,447
122.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$22.22 MX$388
138.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$29.34 MX$512
135.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.42 $43.42
$51.6 MX$902
-15.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.80 $9.80
$18.32 MX$320
-46.51%
Cinema Ticket
$13.31 $13.31
$5.07 MX$88.5
162.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,286 $1,286
$201 MX$3,507
540.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$5,212 MX$91.0K
342.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$36.92 MX$645
39.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.73 $40.73
$39.79 MX$695
2.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 $86.3
$78.5 MX$1,370
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$87.1 MX$1,521
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 $1,571
$973 MX$17.0K
61.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$468 MX$8,169
185.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,662 $2,662
$1,641 MX$28.7K
62.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,236 $2,236
$1,221 MX$21.3K
83.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,629 $2,629
$3,946 MX$68.9K
-33.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,392 $2,392
$6,498 MX$113.5K
-63.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McKeesport, PA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,995 $2,995
$664 MX$11.6K
351.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

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

Last update for McKeesport, PA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,571 in McKeesport, PA and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McKeesport, PA pays 351% 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: $74.0 in McKeesport, PA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $249 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
McKeesport, PA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than McKeesport, PA?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: McKeesport, PA or Playa del Carmen?
McKeesport, PA pays 351% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between McKeesport, PA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,571 in McKeesport, PA versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in McKeesport, PA vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,685 per month in McKeesport, PA versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 181% less than in McKeesport, PA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for McKeesport, PA or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,685 in McKeesport, PA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in McKeesport, PA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is McKeesport, PA or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in McKeesport, PA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in McKeesport, PA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

McKeesport, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities