Cost of Living Comparison Between Moses Lake, WA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Moses Lake, WA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,373 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,496 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,619 per month in Moses Lake, WA vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Moses Lake, WA costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moses Lake, WA sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.65 $17.65

$11.96 MX$203

47.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$47.38 MX$804

67.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.26 $12.26

$11.75 MX$199

4.34%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$4.12 MX$70.0

9.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.40 MX$23.74

105.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.91 MX$15.48

178.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.21 MX$54.4

37.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$7.07 MX$120

10.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.68 MX$28.44

-55.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.15 MX$36.48

73.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$1.77 MX$30.10

141.24%

Eggs

$3.44 $3.44

$2.82 MX$47.76

21.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.86 $8.86

$9.20 MX$156

-3.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.00 $11.00

$9.23 MX$157

19.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$12.64 MX$214

9.10%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.95 MX$50.1

104.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.58 MX$26.79

6.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.22 MX$37.70

138.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.36 MX$40.09

136.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.99 MX$33.81

86.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.98 MX$33.58

62.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.24 MX$21.04

122.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.21 MX$20.55

75.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$4.60 MX$78.1

154.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.52 MX$178

40.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.69 MX$28.70

7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.77 MX$47.06

48.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.60 MX$10.22

265.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$5.24 MX$88.8

-53.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$3.65 MX$61.9

-56.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.51 $30.51

$5.78 MX$98.1

427.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.54 MX$26.09

-24.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K $31.5K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

38.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-0.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$154 $154

$90.7 MX$1,538

69.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$25.19 MX$427

173.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$31.75 MX$539

145.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.16 $42.16

$68.8 MX$1,167

-38.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.70 $11.70

$4.86 MX$82.5

140.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,134 $1,134

$226 MX$3,828

402.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K $30.7K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

632.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$47.38 MX$804

10.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 $24.93

$43.45 MX$737

-42.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.25 $48.25

$80.2 MX$1,361

-39.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 $81.5

$91.4 MX$1,550

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

$1,086 MX$18.4K

38.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 $1,151

$409 MX$6,933

181.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,243 $2,243

$1,972 MX$33.5K

13.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 $2,018

$1,281 MX$21.7K

57.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,698 $2,698

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-33.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,749 $2,749

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-59.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,073 $9,073

$773 MX$13.1K

1073.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.45

-43.67%

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

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,506 in Moses Lake, WA versus $1,086 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 1073% higher in Moses Lake, WA, 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 $79.0 in Moses Lake, WA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $278 – 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

Moses Lake, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moses Lake, WA costs about 82% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,559 per month in Moses Lake, WA and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Moses Lake, WA and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Moses Lake, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Moses Lake, WA at $2,373. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moses Lake, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,305 versus $2,373 in Moses Lake, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moses Lake, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.