Cost of Living Comparison Between Middletown, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Middletown, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,973 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,486 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,000 per month in Middletown, NJ vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Middletown, NJ costs about 129% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Middletown, NJ sits 122% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.98 $24.98

$11.73 MX$205

112.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.6 $86.6

$41.62 MX$727

108.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$10.64 MX$186

18.89%

Cappuccino

$5.90 $5.90

$3.52 MX$61.5

67.61%

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

$3.28 $3.28

$1.51 MX$26.37

117.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.97 MX$17.00

163.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 $6.41

$2.95 MX$51.5

117.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$4.45 MX$77.8

74.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.38 MX$24.16

-25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.89 MX$33.04

54.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$1.64 MX$28.59

237.80%

Eggs

$4.02 $4.02

$2.51 MX$43.76

60.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 $13.25

$8.34 MX$146

58.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 $6.80

$8.34 MX$146

-18.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 $13.07

$10.73 MX$187

21.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.60 MX$45.48

25.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.46 MX$25.45

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.90 MX$33.19

48.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.08 MX$36.26

108.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.78 MX$31.01

-5.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.19 MX$38.16

86.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.04 MX$18.16

144.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.08 MX$18.80

139.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.44 $9.44

$4.08 MX$71.3

131.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 $19.73

$10.32 MX$180

91.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.71 MX$29.90

69.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.58 MX$44.98

48.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.51 MX$8.90

290.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 $4.91

$3.26 MX$57.0

50.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.49 MX$43.51

-14.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.90 $41.90

$3.25 MX$56.7

1189.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.31 MX$22.83

-26.72%

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

$35.1K $35.1K

$30.3K MX$528.8K

15.83%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

21.51%

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

$182 $182

$82.9 MX$1,447

120.03%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$22.22 MX$388

168.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.3 $60.3

$29.34 MX$512

105.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.91 $42.91

$51.6 MX$902

-16.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$20.36 $20.36

$5.07 MX$88.5

301.58%

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

$3,137 $3,137

$201 MX$3,507

1462.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

341.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.72 $49.72

$36.92 MX$645

34.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.93 $47.93

$39.79 MX$695

20.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.80 $34.80

$78.5 MX$1,370

-55.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$87.1 MX$1,521

98.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$973 MX$17.0K

64.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,713 $1,713

$468 MX$8,169

266.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$1,641 MX$28.7K

58.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,962 $2,962

$1,221 MX$21.3K

142.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,625 $2,625

$3,946 MX$68.9K

-33.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,458 $2,458

$6,498 MX$113.5K

-62.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,085 $4,085

$664 MX$11.6K

515.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.42

-43.61%

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

Last update for Middletown, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,599 in Middletown, NJ versus $973 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 515% higher in Middletown, NJ, 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 $87.0 in Middletown, NJ versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 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

Middletown, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,973 in Middletown, NJ, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 129% apart. Middletown, NJ costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,459 per month in Middletown, NJ and $1,945 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Middletown, NJ and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Middletown, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Middletown, NJ at $2,973. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Middletown, NJ 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $2,973 in Middletown, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Middletown, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.