Cost of Living Comparison Between Medford, MA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medford, MA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,719 per month in Medford, MA vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,013 per month in Medford, MA vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,306 per month in Medford, MA vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Medford, MA costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medford, MA sits 103% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.08 $19.08

$11.67 MX$202

63.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$41.88 MX$726

141.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$10.40 MX$180

6.15%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$3.61 MX$62.6

58.17%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$1.47 MX$25.45

83.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.91 MX$15.80

131.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 $8.04

$3.03 MX$52.6

165.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$4.47 MX$77.4

103.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.38 MX$23.83

-7.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.84 MX$31.93

78.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.61 MX$27.82

86.34%

Eggs

$4.70 $4.70

$2.57 MX$44.52

82.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$8.49 MX$147

25.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 $9.50

$8.49 MX$147

11.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.60 $20.60

$10.99 MX$190

87.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$2.73 MX$47.25

116.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.50 MX$25.92

40.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$1.96 MX$33.93

190.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.12 MX$36.70

175.47%

Potato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.86 MX$32.30

136.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.17 MX$37.67

75.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.07 MX$18.59

157.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.05 MX$18.18

110.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.04 $11.04

$4.19 MX$72.6

163.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$10.28 MX$178

46.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.67 MX$28.87

25.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.49 MX$43.12

-21.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.54 MX$9.37

340.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.8 $91.8

$26.27 MX$455

249.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.10 MX$53.8

-18.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.46 MX$42.66

-30.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.54 $28.54

$3.24 MX$56.1

780.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.26 MX$21.83

-33.33%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

0.16%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

6.32%

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

$193 $193

$84.0 MX$1,456

130.11%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$22.21 MX$385

164.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$29.65 MX$514

120.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.63 $42.63

$52.6 MX$912

-19.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$14.59 $14.59

$4.95 MX$85.7

194.75%

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

$1,513 $1,513

$198 MX$3,438

662.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

425.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$35.95 MX$623

44.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 $32.20

$40.06 MX$694

-19.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 $65.7

$78.8 MX$1,365

-16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 $82.0

$86.5 MX$1,499

-5.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 $1,588

$977 MX$16.9K

62.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$471 MX$8,158

192.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$1,595 MX$27.6K

66.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$1,215 MX$21.1K

81.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

11.42

-43.70%

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

Last update for Medford, MA: April 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,588 in Medford, MA versus $977 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Medford, MA versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $252 – 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

Medford, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medford, MA is pricier by about 116%, 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 $4,079 per month in Medford, MA and $1,891 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 $2,719 in Medford, MA and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 249% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Medford, MA at $2,719. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medford, MA 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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