Cost of Living Comparison Between Modesto, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Modesto, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,605 per month in Modesto, CA vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,020 per month in Modesto, CA vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,435 per month in Modesto, CA vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Modesto, CA costs about 106% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Modesto, CA sits 90% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 $14.70

$11.60 MX$200

26.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.9 $78.9

$47.11 MX$812

67.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 $8.95

$11.88 MX$205

-24.66%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$3.98 MX$68.6

38.69%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$1.43 MX$24.60

86.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$0.82 MX$14.22

93.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.19 MX$55.0

54.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.79 MX$117

1.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.68 MX$28.89

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.20 MX$37.88

60.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.71 MX$29.45

144.44%

Eggs

$5.82 $5.82

$2.74 MX$47.26

112.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$9.58 MX$165

34.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$9.01 MX$155

53.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$12.81 MX$221

52.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.89 MX$49.81

79.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.50 MX$25.81

34.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.15 MX$37.03

162.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$2.26 MX$38.96

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.98 MX$34.15

74.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.99 MX$34.30

49.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.23 MX$21.28

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.20 MX$20.63

115.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.52 $11.52

$4.55 MX$78.5

153.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.37 MX$179

42.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.62 MX$27.91

14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.88 MX$49.67

15.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.60 MX$10.35

236.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.09 $40.09

$28.80 MX$497

39.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.39 MX$92.9

-36.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.73 MX$64.3

-21.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.53 $30.53

$5.77 MX$99.5

429.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.54 MX$26.48

-11.69%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

64.16%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-0.51%

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

$259 $259

$91.4 MX$1,576

183.04%

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

$48.45 $48.45

$25.20 MX$435

92.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$31.24 MX$539

122.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.60 $41.60

$67.2 MX$1,159

-38.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.27 $15.27

$29.11 MX$502

-47.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.16 $11.16

$4.86 MX$83.8

129.63%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$224 MX$3,856

702.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.1K $39.1K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

823.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.95 $48.95

$47.10 MX$812

3.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.09 $39.09

$44.29 MX$764

-11.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 $96.4

$80.1 MX$1,381

20.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$92.7 MX$1,598

31.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,465 $1,465

$1,063 MX$18.3K

37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$390 MX$6,728

234.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,461 $2,461

$2,149 MX$37.1K

14.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$1,272 MX$21.9K

94.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,182 $3,182

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-20.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,234 $3,234

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-50.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,074 $4,074

$758 MX$13.1K

437.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

11.45

-46.72%

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

Last update for Modesto, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,465 in Modesto, CA 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.

Salaries run about 437% higher in Modesto, CA, 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 $79.0 in Modesto, CA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 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

Modesto, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Modesto, CA costs about 106% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,908 per month in Modesto, CA and $1,899 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 $2,605 in Modesto, CA and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% 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 $1,266, than in Modesto, CA at $2,605. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Modesto, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,605 in Modesto, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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