Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina, OH and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medina, OH and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,700 per month in Medina, OH vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,662 per month in Medina, OH vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,624 per month in Medina, OH vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Medina, OH costs about 113% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medina, OH sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 $17.74
$11.60 MX$200
52.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 $63.5
$47.11 MX$812
34.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.80 $12.80
$11.88 MX$205
7.74%
Cappuccino
$4.90 $4.90
$3.98 MX$68.6
23.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.43 MX$24.60
49.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.82 MX$14.22
24.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.19 MX$55.0
54.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$6.79 MX$117
0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.68 MX$28.89
-44.05%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.20 MX$37.88
62.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.71 MX$29.45
162.57%
Eggs
$3.82 $3.82
$2.74 MX$47.26
39.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.06 $9.06
$9.58 MX$165
-5.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.39 $11.39
$9.01 MX$155
26.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.54 $16.54
$12.81 MX$221
29.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$2.89 MX$49.81
69.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.50 MX$25.81
2.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.15 MX$37.03
104.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$2.26 MX$38.96
112.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.98 MX$34.15
-34.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$1.99 MX$34.30
55.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.23 MX$21.28
98.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.20 MX$20.63
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.88 $8.88
$4.55 MX$78.5
95.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.88 $15.88
$10.37 MX$179
53.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.62 MX$27.91
-9.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.88 MX$49.67
-48.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$497
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$5.39 MX$92.9
-44.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$3.73 MX$64.3
-58.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.60 $23.60
$5.77 MX$99.5
309.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.54 MX$26.48
-30.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
62.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
2.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$91.4 MX$1,576
137.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.8 $60.8
$25.20 MX$435
141.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$31.24 MX$539
121.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.65 $37.65
$67.2 MX$1,159
-43.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 $12.18
$4.86 MX$83.8
150.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,364 $1,364
$224 MX$3,856
509.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.0K $32.0K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
656.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 $55.8
$47.10 MX$812
18.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00 $41.00
$44.29 MX$764
-7.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 $96.7
$80.1 MX$1,381
20.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 $75.5
$92.7 MX$1,598
-18.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$955 $955
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-10.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 $1,473
$390 MX$6,728
277.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,466 $1,466
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-31.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medina, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$758 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.06
11.45
-47.07%

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

Last update for Medina, OH: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $955 in Medina, OH versus $1,063 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 $63.0 in Medina, OH versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $276 – 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
Medina, OH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medina, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Medina, OH costs about 113% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medina, OH and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,049 per month in Medina, OH and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medina, OH or Playa del Carmen?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Medina, OH and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Medina, OH and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medina, OH or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Medina, OH, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medina, OH or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Medina, OH at $2,700. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medina, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medina, OH or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,700 in Medina, OH. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medina, OH compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Medina, OH or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medina, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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