Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,975 per month in McLean, VA vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,589 per month in McLean, VA vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,202 per month in McLean, VA vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

McLean, VA costs about 137% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

McLean, VA sits 123% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 $18.03

$11.99 MX$210

50.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$41.78 MX$733

41.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.08 $12.08

$10.75 MX$189

12.37%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$3.50 MX$61.3

51.43%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$1.45 MX$25.41

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.88 MX$15.52

73.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 $6.58

$2.95 MX$51.7

123.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.54 $7.54

$4.51 MX$79.1

67.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.43 MX$25.12

-20.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.84 MX$32.23

96.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.57 MX$27.51

63.69%

Eggs

$4.83 $4.83

$2.51 MX$44.06

92.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.45 $17.45

$8.28 MX$145

110.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 $10.06

$8.43 MX$148

19.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.18 $20.18

$10.68 MX$187

88.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$2.61 MX$45.76

176.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.44 MX$25.22

15.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$1.96 MX$34.41

311.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

$2.09 MX$36.74

273.21%

Potato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.85 MX$32.47

157.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.17 MX$38.02

66.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.03 MX$18.09

179.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.07 MX$18.84

-8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.95 $7.95

$4.10 MX$72.0

93.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 $16.21

$10.17 MX$178

59.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.68 MX$29.38

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.53 MX$44.31

47.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.51 MX$8.93

386.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.23 MX$56.7

36.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.41 MX$42.19

-42.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.16 $29.16

$3.23 MX$56.6

802.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.32 MX$23.17

-34.09%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-10.81%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

2.53%

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

$214 $214

$82.0 MX$1,439

160.63%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$22.95 MX$403

131.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$30.11 MX$528

104.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 $89.7

$52.0 MX$912

72.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$15.46 $15.46

$4.98 MX$87.3

210.44%

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

$1,954 $1,954

$197 MX$3,463

889.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

954.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 $47.78

$35.60 MX$624

34.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$40.33 MX$707

18.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 $69.6

$78.8 MX$1,381

-11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.0 $64.0

$88.9 MX$1,560

-28.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 $2,765

$947 MX$16.6K

192.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 $1,629

$474 MX$8,314

243.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,820 $3,820

$1,644 MX$28.8K

132.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,290 $3,290

$1,211 MX$21.2K

171.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,823 $5,823

$654 MX$11.5K

790.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

11.42

-43.43%

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

Last update for McLean, VA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,765 in McLean, VA versus $947 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 790% higher in McLean, VA, 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 $59.0 in McLean, VA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $249 – 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

McLean, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,975 in McLean, VA, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 137% apart. McLean, VA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,463 per month in McLean, VA and $1,884 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,975 in McLean, VA and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,954 per month in McLean, VA and $197 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 $1,256, than in McLean, VA at $2,975. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in McLean, VA 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $2,975 in McLean, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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