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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,785 in Morristown, NJ versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,677 in Morristown, NJ versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,569 in Morristown, NJ versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Morristown, NJ is roughly 200% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Morristown, NJ is 182% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36 $20.36
$11.67 MX$202
74.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 $79.9
$41.88 MX$726
90.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 $11.77
$10.40 MX$180
13.17%
Cappuccino
$5.22 $5.22
$3.61 MX$62.6
44.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.47 MX$25.45
68.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$0.91 MX$15.80
237.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$3.03 MX$52.6
62.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 $7.06
$4.47 MX$77.4
57.94%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.38 MX$23.83
-21.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$1.84 MX$31.93
116.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.61 MX$27.82
177.64%
Eggs
$5.64 $5.64
$2.57 MX$44.52
119.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.80 $25.80
$8.49 MX$147
203.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 $6.63
$8.49 MX$147
-21.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.34 $22.34
$10.99 MX$190
103.28%
Apples (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$2.73 MX$47.25
175.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.50 MX$25.92
65.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$1.96 MX$33.93
170.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.49 $11.49
$2.12 MX$36.70
441.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.86 MX$32.30
50.54%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.17 MX$37.67
74.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.07 MX$18.59
-27.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.05 MX$18.18
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.88 $10.88
$4.19 MX$72.6
159.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$10.28 MX$178
48.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.67 MX$28.87
22.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.49 MX$43.12
-
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.54 MX$9.37
359.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.0 $69.0
$26.27 MX$455
162.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.10 MX$53.8
98.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.46 MX$42.66
-10.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.40 $42.40
$3.24 MX$56.1
1208.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.26 MX$21.83
-29.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$23.4K MX$406.3K
11.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$84.0 MX$1,456
117.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 $51.2
$22.21 MX$385
130.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.4 $56.4
$29.65 MX$514
90.22%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.6 $72.6
$52.6 MX$912
37.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.95 $14.95
$4.95 MX$85.7
202.02%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,787 $1,787
$198 MX$3,438
801.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.8K $40.8K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
666.14%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11 $40.11
$35.95 MX$623
11.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.32 $19.32
$40.06 MX$694
-51.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 $78.7
$78.8 MX$1,365
-0.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203 $203
$86.5 MX$1,499
134.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,325 $2,325
$977 MX$16.9K
138.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,365 $2,365
$471 MX$8,158
402.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,152 $4,152
$1,595 MX$27.6K
160.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$1,215 MX$21.1K
81.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,680 $2,680
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-33.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,296 $2,296
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-65.09%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Morristown, NJ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,513 $5,513
$714 MX$12.4K
671.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.26
11.42
-45.18%

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

Last update for Morristown, NJ: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,325 in Morristown, NJ and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Morristown, NJ pays 672% 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: $80 in Morristown, NJ vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $470 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 โ€“ living expenses run 200% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Morristown, NJ pays 672% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,325 in Morristown, NJ versus $977 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 162% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,787 in Morristown, NJ versus $198 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,785 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 โ€“ similar infrastructure at $1,261 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 โ€“ expenses run 200% less than in Morristown, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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