😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,566 in Morristown, TN versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,852 in Morristown, TN versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,138 in Morristown, TN versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Morristown, TN is roughly 98% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Morristown, TN is 92% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.34$16.34
$11.73MX$205
39.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3$81.3
$41.62MX$727
95.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87$10.87
$10.64MX$186
2.16%
Cappuccino
$5.46$5.46
$3.52MX$61.5
55.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$1.51MX$26.37
62.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16$2.16
$0.97MX$17.00
122.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.65$6.65
$2.95MX$51.5
125.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34$7.34
$4.45MX$77.8
64.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.38MX$24.16
-35.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.68$3.68
$1.89MX$33.04
94.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.79$4.79
$1.64MX$28.59
192.07%
Eggs
$4.21$4.21
$2.51MX$43.76
67.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.77$13.77
$8.34MX$146
65.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.74$13.74
$8.34MX$146
64.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.53$12.53
$10.73MX$187
16.78%
Apples(1kg)
$6.28$6.28
$2.60MX$45.48
141.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60$1.60
$1.46MX$25.45
9.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$1.90MX$33.19
120.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.69$3.69
$2.08MX$36.26
77.40%
Potato(1kg)
$3.59$3.59
$1.78MX$31.01
101.69%
Onion(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$2.19MX$38.16
117.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.38$2.38
$1.04MX$18.16
128.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.15$3.15
$1.08MX$18.80
191.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81$7.81
$4.08MX$71.3
91.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.20$13.20
$10.32MX$180
27.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.71MX$29.90
15.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51$3.51
$2.58MX$44.98
36.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.51MX$8.90
296.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.9$50.9
$26.46MX$462
92.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73$1.73
$3.26MX$57.0
-46.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88$1.88
$2.49MX$43.51
-24.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.22$29.22
$3.25MX$56.7
799.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.31MX$22.83
-40.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$30.3KMX$528.8K
-16.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$23.4KMX$409.2K
10.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139$139
$82.9MX$1,447
67.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.0$57.0
$22.22MX$388
156.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4$71.4
$29.34MX$512
143.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.22$43.22
$51.6MX$902
-16.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.60$12.60
$5.07MX$88.5
148.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,027$1,027
$201MX$3,507
411.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.8K$24.8K
$5,212MX$91.0K
375.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.04$42.04
$36.92MX$645
13.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.42$31.42
$39.79MX$695
-21.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7$97.7
$78.5MX$1,370
24.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$87.1MX$1,521
36.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$746$746
$973MX$17.0K
-23.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331$1,331
$468MX$8,169
184.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663$2,663
$1,641MX$28.7K
62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,196$2,196
$1,221MX$21.3K
79.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Morristown, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,684$2,684
$664MX$11.6K
304.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Morristown, TN: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $746 in Morristown, TN and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Morristown, TN pays 304% 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, TN vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $249 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, 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 & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Morristown, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Morristown, TN pays 304% more on average, 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: $746 in Morristown, TN versus $973 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 92% 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 $1,027 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 Morristown, TN or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,566 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 98% 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