Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,012 in Morristown, TN, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Morristown, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,012
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,012 in Morristown, TN versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, TN $2,012
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,099 in Morristown, TN versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, TN $3,099
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Morristown, TN versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Morristown, TN $4,187
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Morristown, TN is roughly 67% 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, TN is 48% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70 $19.70
$10.86 MX$201
81.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.3 $99.3
$44.21 MX$817
124.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 $11.15
$11.76 MX$217
-5.19%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.68 MX$68.0
45.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.34 MX$24.79
74.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$0.82 MX$15.24
152.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 $6.02
$3.06 MX$56.6
96.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 $7.42
$4.94 MX$91.2
50.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.47 MX$27.17
-38.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$2.22 MX$40.95
68.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$1.48 MX$27.32
169.59%
Eggs
$4.16 $4.16
$2.49 MX$45.99
67.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$7.52 MX$139
62.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.92 $14.92
$7.96 MX$147
87.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$12.57 MX$232
6.28%
Apples (1kg)
$6.73 $6.73
$2.78 MX$51.3
142.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.43 MX$26.37
14.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.62 MX$48.37
65.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.14 MX$39.49
98.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.02 MX$37.38
40.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$1.99 MX$36.74
90.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.14 MX$21.01
131.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.20 MX$22.18
131.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.98 $8.98
$4.26 MX$78.7
110.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.12 $18.12
$10.02 MX$185
80.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.54 MX$28.41
25.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.66 MX$49.17
27.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.53 MX$9.73
271.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.0 $51.0
$27.51 MX$508
85.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.85 $4.85
$4.90 MX$90.6
-1.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 $1.92
$3.43 MX$63.5
-44.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$5.38 MX$99.4
451.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.45 MX$26.76
-32.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
33.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
14.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$85.4 MX$1,577
83.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$83.1 $83.1
$23.46 MX$434
254.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.6 $76.6
$28.43 MX$525
169.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.45 $41.45
$62.2 MX$1,149
-33.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.79 $14.79
$5.10 MX$94.3
190.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,103 $1,103
$201 MX$3,715
448.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.8K $24.8K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
527.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.55 $41.55
$44.39 MX$820
-6.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 $38.55
$41.35 MX$764
-6.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$72.7 MX$1,344
37.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$89.6 MX$1,656
34.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 $817
$979 MX$18.1K
-16.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 $673
$373 MX$6,887
80.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-23.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 $1,087
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-0.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,740 $2,740
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-30.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,238 $2,238
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-63.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,683 $2,683
$738 MX$13.6K
263.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
11.45
-42.53%

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

Last update for Morristown, TN: October 19, 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, TN
$673
Playa del Carmen
$373 44.6% $300
Groceries & Markets
Morristown, TN
$425
Playa del Carmen
$258 39.2% $167
Eating Out
Morristown, TN
$318
Playa del Carmen
$200 37% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, TN
$316
Playa del Carmen
$137 56.6% $179
Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, TN
$135
Playa del Carmen
$112 17.5% $24
Getting Around
Morristown, TN
$73
Playa del Carmen
$52 29.5% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, TN
$71
Playa del Carmen
$72 1.9% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $817 in Morristown, TN and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Morristown, TN pays 264% 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: $99.0 in Morristown, TN vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $258 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Morristown, TN
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
07:26 7:26 AM
1 h behind Morristown, TN
🌤 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, TN Playa del Carmen 1,770 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Morristown, TN
  • 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, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Morristown, TN?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Morristown, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 264% higher in Morristown, TN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Morristown, TN and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $817 in Morristown, TN versus $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 85% less than in Morristown, TN. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,103 in Morristown, TN versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Morristown, TN or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,012 in Morristown, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Morristown, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Morristown, TN or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Morristown, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Morristown, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Morristown, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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