😐A single person spends $1,961 per month in Minot, ND vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,475 per month in Minot, ND vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,989 per month in Minot, ND vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Minot, ND costs about 56% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Minot, ND sits 46% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.05$16.05
$11.67MX$202
37.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9$73.9
$41.88MX$726
76.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.69$12.69
$10.40MX$180
22.02%
Cappuccino
$7.64$7.64
$3.61MX$62.6
111.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83$2.83
$1.47MX$25.45
92.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$0.91MX$15.80
149.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64$5.64
$3.03MX$52.6
86.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95$6.95
$4.47MX$77.4
55.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06$1.06
$1.38MX$23.83
-23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12$3.12
$1.84MX$31.93
69.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33$3.33
$1.61MX$27.82
106.83%
Eggs
$5.06$5.06
$2.57MX$44.52
96.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.11$12.11
$8.49MX$147
42.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.35$11.35
$8.49MX$147
33.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.42$23.42
$10.99MX$190
113.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.45$4.45
$2.73MX$47.25
63.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94$1.94
$1.50MX$25.92
29.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$1.96MX$33.93
82.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$2.12MX$36.70
104.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.40$3.40
$1.86MX$32.30
82.80%
Onion(1kg)
$3.84$3.84
$2.17MX$37.67
76.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.06$3.06
$1.07MX$18.59
185.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70$2.70
$1.05MX$18.18
157.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.17$8.17
$4.19MX$72.6
94.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.87$14.87
$10.28MX$178
44.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.67MX$28.87
10.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35$3.35
$2.49MX$43.12
34.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.54MX$9.37
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51$3.51
$3.10MX$53.8
13.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65$1.65
$2.46MX$42.66
-32.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.17$29.17
$3.24MX$56.1
800.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.26MX$21.83
-30.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K$30.0K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
9.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204$204
$84.0MX$1,456
143.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0$52.0
$22.21MX$385
134.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4$75.4
$29.65MX$514
154.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.22$43.22
$52.6MX$912
-17.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.32$13.32
$4.95MX$85.7
169.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,051$1,051
$198MX$3,438
429.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K$23.9K
$5,322MX$92.2K
348.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.35$35.35
$35.95MX$623
-1.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7$61.7
$40.06MX$694
54.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7$96.7
$78.8MX$1,365
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$86.5MX$1,499
31.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927$927
$977MX$16.9K
-5.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661$661
$471MX$8,158
40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,835$1,835
$1,595MX$27.6K
15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,203$2,203
$1,215MX$21.1K
81.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,576$1,576
$4,032MX$69.9K
-60.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,596$1,596
$6,579MX$114.0K
-75.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minot, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,787$3,787
$714MX$12.4K
430.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Minot, ND: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $927 in Minot, ND 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.
💰Salaries run about 430% higher in Minot, ND, 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 $74 in Minot, ND versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 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
Minot, ND vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Minot, ND and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,961 in Minot, ND, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 56% apart. Minot, ND costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Minot, ND compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,942 per month in Minot, ND and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Minot, ND and 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Minot, ND or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,961 in Minot, ND and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Minot, ND and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,051 per month in Minot, ND and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Minot, ND at $1,961. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Minot, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Minot, ND and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $1,961 in Minot, ND. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Minot, ND and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Minot, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.