Cost of Living Comparison Between Monticello, AR and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Monticello, AR and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,335 per month in Monticello, AR vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,398 per month in Monticello, AR vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,461 per month in Monticello, AR vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Monticello, AR costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Monticello, AR sits 69% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.71 $17.71

$11.96 MX$203

48.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$47.38 MX$804

58.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.75 MX$199

2.98%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.12 MX$70.0

40.05%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$1.40 MX$23.74

73.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.91 MX$15.48

116.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$3.21 MX$54.4

121.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.07 MX$120

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.68 MX$28.44

-46.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.15 MX$36.48

-46.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.77 MX$30.10

16.95%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$2.82 MX$47.76

15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 $8.96

$9.20 MX$156

-2.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$9.23 MX$157

-26.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.94 $8.94

$12.64 MX$214

-29.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.95 MX$50.1

18.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.58 MX$26.79

-20.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.22 MX$37.70

22.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.36 MX$40.09

-7.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.99 MX$33.81

59.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.98 MX$33.58

17.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.24 MX$21.04

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.21 MX$20.55

93.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.26 $8.26

$4.60 MX$78.1

79.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.61 $13.61

$10.52 MX$178

29.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.69 MX$28.70

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.77 MX$47.06

-40.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.60 MX$10.22

243.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$5.24 MX$88.8

-61.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$3.65 MX$61.9

-63.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.65 $19.65

$5.78 MX$98.1

239.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.54 MX$26.09

-39.61%

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

$37.7K $37.7K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

65.20%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

2.71%

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

$169 $169

$90.7 MX$1,538

85.88%

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

$39.51 $39.51

$25.19 MX$427

56.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.14 $45.14

$31.75 MX$539

42.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.58 $41.58

$68.8 MX$1,167

-39.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 $11.02

$4.86 MX$82.5

126.75%

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

$1,185 $1,185

$226 MX$3,828

425.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

562.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.27 $24.27

$47.38 MX$804

-48.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.60 $31.60

$43.45 MX$737

-27.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 $71.2

$80.2 MX$1,361

-11.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

$91.4 MX$1,550

53.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,557 $1,557

$1,086 MX$18.4K

43.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,150 $1,150

$409 MX$6,933

181.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,195 $2,195

$1,972 MX$33.5K

11.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 $1,913

$1,281 MX$21.7K

49.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,711 $2,711

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-33.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,507 $2,507

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-62.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.06

11.45

-47.07%

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

Last update for Monticello, AR: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,557 in Monticello, AR versus $1,086 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Monticello, AR versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Monticello, AR vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Monticello, AR 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

Monticello, AR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monticello, AR is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,502 per month in Monticello, AR and $1,958 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 $75.0 in Monticello, AR and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Monticello, AR – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Monticello, AR at $2,335. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monticello, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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