😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,615 in McMinnville, TN versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,750 in McMinnville, TN versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,885 in McMinnville, TN versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in McMinnville, TN is roughly 107% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: McMinnville, TN is 95% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.20$19.20
$11.67MX$202
64.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8$75.8
$41.88MX$726
80.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.85$10.85
$10.40MX$180
4.33%
Cappuccino
$4.96$4.96
$3.61MX$62.6
37.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$1.47MX$25.45
74.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$0.91MX$15.80
126.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94$5.94
$3.03MX$52.6
96.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07$7.07
$4.47MX$77.4
58.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.38MX$23.83
-24.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58$3.58
$1.84MX$31.93
94.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$1.61MX$27.82
165.22%
Eggs
$4.10$4.10
$2.57MX$44.52
59.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.02$12.02
$8.49MX$147
41.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.29$11.29
$8.49MX$147
32.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74$15.74
$10.99MX$190
43.22%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88$4.88
$2.73MX$47.25
78.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.50MX$25.92
7.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18$4.18
$1.96MX$33.93
113.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.12MX$36.70
128.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.86MX$32.30
51.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$2.17MX$37.67
29.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09$2.09
$1.07MX$18.59
95.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$1.05MX$18.18
100.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53$9.53
$4.19MX$72.6
127.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.03$15.03
$10.28MX$178
46.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.67MX$28.87
7.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46$3.46
$2.49MX$43.12
38.96%
🚌 Getting Around
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.54MX$9.37
266.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$3.10MX$53.8
15.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67$1.67
$2.46MX$42.66
-32.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.59$29.59
$3.24MX$56.1
813.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.26MX$21.83
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K$29.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-2.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
10.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$84.0MX$1,456
119.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2$53.2
$22.21MX$385
139.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7$68.7
$29.65MX$514
131.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.41$43.41
$52.6MX$912
-17.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.60$13.60
$4.95MX$85.7
174.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,293$1,293
$198MX$3,438
551.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,322MX$92.2K
337.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0$51.0
$35.95MX$623
41.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25$39.25
$40.06MX$694
-2.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1$86.1
$78.8MX$1,365
9.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$86.5MX$1,499
27.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,586$1,586
$977MX$16.9K
62.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$471MX$8,158
186.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,596$2,596
$1,595MX$27.6K
62.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,266$2,266
$1,215MX$21.1K
86.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,679$2,679
$4,032MX$69.9K
-33.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,604$2,604
$6,579MX$114.0K
-60.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McMinnville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,473$1,473
$714MX$12.4K
106.29%
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 McMinnville, TN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,586 in McMinnville, TN and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰McMinnville, TN pays 106% 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: $76 in McMinnville, TN vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $252 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
McMinnville, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, McMinnville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in McMinnville, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in McMinnville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
McMinnville, TN pays 106% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in McMinnville, TN vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,586 in McMinnville, TN versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in McMinnville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in McMinnville, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in McMinnville, TN compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,615 per month in McMinnville, TN versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in McMinnville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,615 in McMinnville, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in McMinnville, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, McMinnville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in McMinnville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
McMinnville, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared