Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,415 per month in Memphis, TN vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,417 per month in Memphis, TN vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,419 per month in Memphis, TN vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Memphis, TN costs about 92% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Memphis, TN sits 81% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$11.99 MX$210

60.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 $75.7

$41.78 MX$731

81.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 $9.97

$10.75 MX$188

-7.26%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.50 MX$61.1

46.00%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$1.45 MX$25.33

76.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.88 MX$15.47

130.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.82 $5.82

$2.95 MX$51.6

97.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.51 MX$78.9

75.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.43 MX$25.04

-34.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.84 MX$32.13

49.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$1.57 MX$27.42

186.62%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.51 MX$43.92

66.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 $10.95

$8.28 MX$145

32.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 $11.00

$8.43 MX$147

30.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.47 $15.47

$10.68 MX$187

44.85%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$2.61 MX$45.62

141.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.44 MX$25.15

9.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$1.96 MX$34.31

178.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.09 MX$36.62

132.54%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.85 MX$32.37

165.95%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.17 MX$37.90

54.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.03 MX$18.04

128.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.07 MX$18.78

130.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.10 MX$71.7

93.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 $13.44

$10.17 MX$178

32.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.68 MX$29.29

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.53 MX$44.17

-24.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.51 MX$8.90

143.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 $12.67

$26.04 MX$455

-51.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.23 MX$56.5

-36.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.41 MX$42.06

-41.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.81 $19.81

$3.23 MX$56.5

513.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.32 MX$23.10

-38.64%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

11.89%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

15.62%

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

$215 $215

$82.0 MX$1,434

161.71%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$22.95 MX$401

152.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$30.11 MX$527

122.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 $37.32

$52.0 MX$909

-28.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 $17.71

$18.53 MX$324

-4.43%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 $12.63

$4.98 MX$87.0

153.61%

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

$1,582 $1,582

$197 MX$3,452

701.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$5,336 MX$93.3K

420.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.22 $39.22

$35.60 MX$622

10.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 $32.45

$40.33 MX$705

-19.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$78.8 MX$1,377

-4.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$88.9 MX$1,555

58.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 $1,207

$947 MX$16.6K

27.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 $1,115

$474 MX$8,288

135.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 $1,547

$1,644 MX$28.7K

-5.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,211 MX$21.2K

32.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-56.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,349 $1,349

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-79.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,578 $3,578

$654 MX$11.4K

447.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

11.42

-42.82%

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

Last update for Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Memphis, TN 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 447% higher in Memphis, TN, 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 $76.0 in Memphis, TN versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 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

Memphis, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,415 in Memphis, TN, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 92% apart. Memphis, TN costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,622 per month in Memphis, TN 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.

Public transport costs about 106% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,582 per month in Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN at $2,415. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Memphis, TN 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 $2,415 in Memphis, TN. 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, Memphis, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.