Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Morgantown, WV and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $2,292 in Morgantown, WV, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Morgantown, WV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,292
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Morgantown, WV and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Morgantown, WV and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,292 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Morgantown, WV $2,292
  • Playa del Carmen $1,210

A couple spends around $3,457 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $2,113 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Morgantown, WV $3,457
  • Playa del Carmen $2,113

A family of three spends $4,622 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $3,016 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Morgantown, WV $4,622
  • Playa del Carmen $3,016

Morgantown, WV costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Morgantown, WV sits 70% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.12 $20.12
$10.76 MX$199
86.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1 $67.1
$43.03 MX$795
55.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 $10.81
$11.79 MX$218
-8.31%
Cappuccino
$4.63 $4.63
$3.87 MX$71.4
19.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.37 MX$25.29
97.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.84 MX$15.44
163.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 $4.62
$3.10 MX$57.3
49.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 $4.49
$5.07 MX$93.6
-11.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.44 MX$26.55
-43.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.23 MX$41.23
0.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$1.47 MX$27.17
155.78%
Eggs
$4.27 $4.27
$2.53 MX$46.71
68.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.69 $10.69
$7.30 MX$135
46.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.30 $14.30
$7.86 MX$145
81.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 $12.80
$12.79 MX$236
0.08%
Apples (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$2.90 MX$53.6
121.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.44 MX$26.53
32.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$2.55 MX$47.07
64.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.06 MX$38.03
152.91%
Potato (1kg)
$7.46 $7.46
$2.00 MX$36.97
273.00%
Onion (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$2.01 MX$37.07
169.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.19 MX$22.02
61.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.26 MX$23.23
101.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.20 $10.20
$4.40 MX$81.4
131.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 $14.23
$9.59 MX$177
48.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.59 MX$29.41
7.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.81 MX$51.9
12.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.57 MX$10.47
242.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.8 $78.8
$27.82 MX$514
183.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.98 MX$92.1
-1.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.50 MX$64.6
-12.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.60 $35.60
$5.40 MX$99.8
559.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.47 MX$27.08
-37.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K $22.9K
$21.0K MX$387.8K
8.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$23.9K MX$441.8K
0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$451 $451
$84.2 MX$1,556
436.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.63 $38.63
$23.99 MX$443
61.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$29.02 MX$536
150.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.38 $17.38
$63.0 MX$1,164
-72.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.8 $50.8
$29.14 MX$539
74.23%
Cinema Ticket
$15.73 $15.73
$4.94 MX$91.3
218.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$598 $598
$204 MX$3,763
193.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$64.2K $64.2K
$3,941 MX$72.8K
1528.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 $57.4
$43.60 MX$806
31.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.41 $25.41
$43.12 MX$797
-41.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.1 $74.1
$75.8 MX$1,400
-2.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 $69.7
$88.6 MX$1,637
-21.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 $980
$1,008 MX$18.6K
-2.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$766 $766
$374 MX$6,911
104.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,821 $1,821
$1,708 MX$31.6K
6.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,541 $1,541
$1,106 MX$20.4K
39.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,929 $1,929
$3,944 MX$72.9K
-51.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,769 $1,769
$6,169 MX$114.0K
-71.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,127 $4,127
$754 MX$13.9K
447.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.45
-41.83%

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

Last update for Morgantown, WV: October 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Morgantown, WV
$766
Playa del Carmen
$374 51.2% $392
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morgantown, WV
$563
Playa del Carmen
$137 75.6% $425
Groceries & Markets
Morgantown, WV
$406
Playa del Carmen
$258 36.3% $147
Eating Out
Morgantown, WV
$301
Playa del Carmen
$202 32.7% $98
Getting Around
Morgantown, WV
$107
Playa del Carmen
$53 50.8% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Morgantown, WV
$102
Playa del Carmen
$113 10.8% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Morgantown, WV
$49
Playa del Carmen
$73 49.2% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,008 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 447% higher in Morgantown, WV, 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 $67.0 in Morgantown, WV versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Morgantown, WV
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
09:22 9:22 AM
08:22 8:22 AM
1 h behind Morgantown, WV
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
30,347
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Morgantown, WV Playa del Carmen 2,220 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Morgantown, WV
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Morgantown, WV vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Morgantown, WV or Playa del Carmen?
Morgantown, WV costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Morgantown, WV and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,439 per month in Morgantown, WV and $1,816 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Morgantown, WV or 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.
How much does it cost to live in Morgantown, WV compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,292 in Morgantown, WV and $1,210 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 89%.
How expensive is transport in Morgantown, WV compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 183% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Morgantown, WV or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Morgantown, WV at $2,292. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Morgantown, WV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Morgantown, WV or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,210 versus $2,292 in Morgantown, WV. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Morgantown, WV or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Morgantown, WV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Morgantown, WV vs other spots: cost of living compared

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