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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 22.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 161.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 94.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 115% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.22 $16.22
$11.99 MX$227
35.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$42.47 MX$803
52.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 $9.45
$10.47 MX$198
-9.74%
Cappuccino
$4.48 $4.48
$3.6 MX$68.2
24.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$1.44 MX$27.16
119.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.89 MX$16.79
83.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$3.09 MX$58.5
89.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 $4.44
$4.58 MX$86.6
-3.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.38 MX$26.04
-2.90%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.85 MX$34.9
84.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.57 MX$29.68
178.34%
Eggs
$4 $4
$2.55 MX$48.3
56.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 $9.38
$8.61 MX$163
8.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.66 $17.66
$8.54 MX$161
106.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 $14.04
$10.98 MX$208
27.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.72 MX$51.4
41.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.51 MX$28.57
-23.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.88 MX$35.63
30.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.19 MX$41.42
1.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.87 MX$35.3
2.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.19 MX$41.37
1.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.07 MX$20.23
71.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.09 MX$20.64
77.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.16 $12.16
$3.96 MX$74.9
207.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.28 $17.28
$8.86 MX$167
95.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.72 MX$32.53
27.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.61 MX$49.37
-6.51%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.52 MX$9.74
292.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53 $53
$26.59 MX$503
99.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.24 MX$61.2
-51.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.38 MX$44.94
-62.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.75 $28.75
$3.11 MX$58.7
824.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.31 MX$24.85
-6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$30.3K MX$573K
-20.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$24K MX$453.6K
0.84%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$84.2 MX$1,592
122.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7 $51.7
$22.14 MX$419
133.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$30.14 MX$570
105.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.27 $43.27
$52 MX$983
-16.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.52 $10.52
$18.72 MX$354
-43.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.3 $12.3
$5.07 MX$95.9
142.60%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 $570
$200 MX$3,787
184.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
135.24%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$35.74 MX$676
91.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$119 $119
$39.8 MX$753
198.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 $98.5
$79 MX$1,493
24.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$88.4 MX$1,671
128.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,323 $2,323
$965 MX$18.3K
140.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,004 $2,004
$474 MX$8,968
322.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,623 $3,623
$1,653 MX$31.2K
119.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$1,202 MX$22.7K
204.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,809 $7,809
$3,081 MX$58.3K
153.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,920 $5,920
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-21.37%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Monterey, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,380 $4,380
$792 MX$15K
453.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
11.42
-43.96%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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