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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,959 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,024 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,090 per month in Morgantown, WV vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Morgantown, WV costs about 51% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Morgantown, WV sits 46% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 $17.41
$11.73 MX$203
48.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 $69.8
$41.62 MX$720
67.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.10 $9.10
$10.64 MX$184
-14.47%
Cappuccino
$4.29 $4.29
$3.52 MX$60.9
21.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.51 MX$26.12
37.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.97 MX$16.84
125.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.09 $4.09
$2.95 MX$51.0
38.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.45 MX$77.0
-1.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.38 MX$23.93
-42.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.89 MX$32.72
14.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$1.64 MX$28.32
151.83%
Eggs
$3.18 $3.18
$2.51 MX$43.34
26.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.67 $10.67
$8.34 MX$144
27.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$8.34 MX$144
54.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.27 $9.27
$10.73 MX$186
-13.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.60 MX$45.04
72.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.46 MX$25.20
-7.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.90 MX$32.87
32.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.08 MX$35.91
11.06%
Potato (1kg)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.78 MX$30.71
102.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.19 MX$37.80
15.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.04 MX$17.99
75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.08 MX$18.62
92.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.75 $9.75
$4.08 MX$70.6
138.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.88 $13.88
$10.32 MX$178
34.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.71 MX$29.61
17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.58 MX$44.54
-0.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.51 MX$8.81
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.0 $80.0
$26.46 MX$458
202.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.26 MX$56.4
-10.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.49 MX$43.09
-42.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.10 $27.10
$3.25 MX$56.2
733.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.31 MX$22.61
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
10.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$82.9 MX$1,433
220.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 $59.3
$22.22 MX$384
166.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 $68.8
$29.34 MX$507
134.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.03 $10.03
$51.6 MX$893
-80.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.3 $50.3
$18.32 MX$317
174.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.93 $11.93
$5.07 MX$87.6
135.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$597 $597
$201 MX$3,473
197.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K $15.2K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
191.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 $54.6
$36.92 MX$639
47.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.81 $24.81
$39.79 MX$688
-37.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.6 $69.6
$78.5 MX$1,357
-11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 $69.7
$87.1 MX$1,506
-19.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 $828
$973 MX$16.8K
-14.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 $703
$468 MX$8,090
50.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,650 $1,650
$1,641 MX$28.4K
0.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 $1,482
$1,221 MX$21.1K
21.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,925 $1,925
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-51.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,796 $1,796
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-72.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morgantown, WV
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,109 $4,109
$664 MX$11.5K
518.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
11.42
-44.31%

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

Last update for Morgantown, WV: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $828 in Morgantown, WV 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 519% 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 $70.0 in Morgantown, WV versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $249 – 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
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 51% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Morgantown, WV vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,938 per month in Morgantown, WV and $1,945 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 $1,959 in Morgantown, WV and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Morgantown, WV vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 202% 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Morgantown, WV at $1,959. 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 $1,297 versus $1,959 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 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.

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