Cost of Living Comparison Between Monroe, LA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Monroe, LA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,744 per month in Monroe, LA vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,853 per month in Monroe, LA vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,963 per month in Monroe, LA vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Monroe, LA costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Monroe, LA sits 30% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 $14.83

$11.73 MX$203

26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.22 $39.22

$41.62 MX$721

-5.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 $10.11

$10.64 MX$184

-4.98%

Cappuccino

$2.95 $2.95

$3.52 MX$61.0

-16.19%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$1.51 MX$26.17

29.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.97 MX$16.87

29.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.95 MX$51.1

70.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.62 $6.62

$4.45 MX$77.2

48.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.38 MX$23.97

-9.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.89 MX$32.78

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.64 MX$28.37

40.85%

Eggs

$2.97 $2.97

$2.51 MX$43.42

18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$8.34 MX$145

2.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.34 MX$145

-6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.73 MX$186

37.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.60 MX$45.12

111.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.46 MX$25.25

43.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$1.90 MX$32.94

176.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.08 MX$35.98

88.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.78 MX$30.77

68.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.19 MX$37.87

24.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.04 MX$18.02

41.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.08 MX$18.66

64.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.08 MX$70.7

93.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$10.32 MX$179

17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.71 MX$29.67

6.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.58 MX$44.63

6.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.51 MX$8.83

301.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.26 MX$56.5

19.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$2.49 MX$43.17

-49.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.0 $59.0

$3.25 MX$56.3

1716.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.31 MX$22.65

-39.69%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

22.92%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

6.27%

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

$136 $136

$82.9 MX$1,436

63.91%

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

$44.02 $44.02

$22.22 MX$385

98.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.1 $63.1

$29.34 MX$508

115.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.75 $45.75

$51.6 MX$895

-11.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$11.81 $11.81

$5.07 MX$87.8

132.94%

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

$810 $810

$201 MX$3,480

303.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,848 $9,848

$5,212 MX$90.3K

88.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.54 $35.54

$36.92 MX$640

-3.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.76 $42.76

$39.79 MX$689

7.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 $63.4

$78.5 MX$1,360

-19.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 $77.0

$87.1 MX$1,509

-11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,040 $1,040

$973 MX$16.9K

6.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 $768

$468 MX$8,105

64.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,641 MX$28.4K

57.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 $1,913

$1,221 MX$21.2K

56.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,008 $2,008

$3,946 MX$68.4K

-49.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,808 $1,808

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-72.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,625 $3,625

$664 MX$11.5K

445.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

11.42

-42.12%

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

Last update for Monroe, LA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,040 in Monroe, LA 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 446% higher in Monroe, LA, 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 $39.00 in Monroe, LA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $331 in Monroe, LA vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Monroe, LA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monroe, LA costs about 35% 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 $2,616 per month in Monroe, LA 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 $39.00 in Monroe, LA 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 33% more in Monroe, LA, 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 Monroe, LA at $1,744. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monroe, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,744 in Monroe, LA. 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, Monroe, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.