Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Morristown, NJ and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $3,972 in Morristown, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $33,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Morristown, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,972
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Morristown, NJ 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 Morristown, NJ and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,972 in Morristown, NJ versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, NJ $3,972
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,434 in Morristown, NJ versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, NJ $5,434
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,896 in Morristown, NJ versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, NJ $6,896
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Morristown, NJ is roughly 230% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Morristown, NJ is 193% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.66 $18.66
$10.86 MX$201
71.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$44.21 MX$817
83.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.17 $12.17
$11.76 MX$217
3.49%
Cappuccino
$5.95 $5.95
$3.68 MX$68.0
61.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.34 MX$24.79
81.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.82 MX$15.24
84.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.21 $8.21
$3.06 MX$56.6
168.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.91 $11.91
$4.94 MX$91.2
141.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.47 MX$27.17
-17.01%
White Bread (500g)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.22 MX$40.95
106.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$1.48 MX$27.32
189.86%
Eggs
$6.52 $6.52
$2.49 MX$45.99
161.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.87 $13.87
$7.52 MX$139
84.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$7.96 MX$147
-17.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.88 $19.88
$12.57 MX$232
58.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.88 $5.88
$2.78 MX$51.3
111.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.43 MX$26.37
111.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.62 MX$48.37
67.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.14 MX$39.49
155.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$2.02 MX$37.38
48.02%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$1.99 MX$36.74
56.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.14 MX$21.01
79.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.20 MX$22.18
-56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.21 $13.21
$4.26 MX$78.7
210.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$10.02 MX$185
52.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.54 MX$28.41
18.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.66 MX$49.17
21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.53 MX$9.73
377.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.2 $70.2
$27.51 MX$508
155.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.90 MX$90.6
-37.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$3.43 MX$63.5
-37.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.31 $42.31
$5.38 MX$99.4
686.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.45 MX$26.76
-38.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
10.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$85.4 MX$1,577
102.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 $51.0
$23.46 MX$434
117.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 $50.6
$28.43 MX$525
77.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.1 $80.1
$62.2 MX$1,149
28.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.83 $20.83
$28.68 MX$530
-27.37%
Cinema Ticket
$17.31 $17.31
$5.10 MX$94.3
239.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,990 $1,990
$201 MX$3,715
889.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K $15.9K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
303.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.51 $49.51
$44.39 MX$820
11.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.52 $26.52
$41.35 MX$764
-35.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$72.7 MX$1,344
51.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$89.6 MX$1,656
13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,706 $2,706
$979 MX$18.1K
176.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,618 $2,618
$373 MX$6,887
602.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,140 $4,140
$1,681 MX$31.1K
146.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,810 $3,810
$1,095 MX$20.2K
247.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,710 $2,710
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-31.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 $2,292
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-62.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,357 $5,357
$738 MX$13.6K
626.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.45
-42.71%

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

Last update for Morristown, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Morristown, NJ
$2.6K
Playa del Carmen
$373 85.8% $2.2K
Groceries & Markets
Morristown, NJ
$404
Playa del Carmen
$258 36% $145
Eating Out
Morristown, NJ
$338
Playa del Carmen
$200 40.7% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, NJ
$274
Playa del Carmen
$137 50% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, NJ
$129
Playa del Carmen
$112 13.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, NJ
$115
Playa del Carmen
$72 36.9% $42
Getting Around
Morristown, NJ
$94
Playa del Carmen
$52 45.1% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,706 in Morristown, NJ and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Morristown, NJ pays 626% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Morristown, NJ vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $258 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Morristown, NJ
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
00:59 12:59 AM
23:59 11:59 PM
1 h behind Morristown, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,122
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Morristown, NJ Playa del Carmen 2,540 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Morristown, NJ
  • 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
Morristown, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Morristown, NJ or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 230% lower than in Morristown, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Morristown, NJ or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 626% higher in Morristown, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Morristown, NJ compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,706 in Morristown, NJ versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Morristown, NJ compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 155% less than in Morristown, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Morristown, NJ and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,990 in Morristown, NJ versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Morristown, NJ or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,972 in Morristown, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Morristown, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Morristown, NJ or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,204 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Morristown, NJ compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Morristown, NJ and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Morristown, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Morristown, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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