Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nacogdoches, TX and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,737 in Nacogdoches, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nacogdoches, TX, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Nacogdoches, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$1,737
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,737 in Nacogdoches, TX versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Nacogdoches, TX $1,737
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,506 in Nacogdoches, TX versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Nacogdoches, TX $2,506
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Nacogdoches, TX versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Nacogdoches, TX $3,274
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Nacogdoches, TX is roughly 44% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nacogdoches, TX is 28% above, Playa del Carmen is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.66 $13.66
$10.92 MX$203
25.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.85 $36.85
$43.37 MX$805
-15.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 $9.26
$11.78 MX$219
-21.39%
Cappuccino
$4.13 $4.13
$3.81 MX$70.7
8.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.28 MX$23.81
29.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 $1.22
$0.78 MX$14.54
56.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.14 $5.14
$3.17 MX$58.8
62.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 $6.06
$4.93 MX$91.7
22.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.41 MX$26.12
-41.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.22 MX$41.17
24.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.42 MX$26.32
173.24%
Eggs
$3.01 $3.01
$2.52 MX$46.85
19.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$7.26 MX$135
54.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$7.70 MX$143
-11.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.03 $13.03
$12.69 MX$236
2.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$2.78 MX$51.7
63.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.37 MX$25.41
-5.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.55 MX$47.37
77.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.12 MX$39.43
30.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.94 MX$36.00
11.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.89 MX$35.02
-10.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.15 MX$21.29
73.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.18 MX$21.89
112.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$4.30 MX$79.8
98.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.30 $10.30
$9.95 MX$185
3.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.58 MX$29.41
7.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.67 MX$49.60
64.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.55 MX$10.28
270.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.6 $66.6
$26.62 MX$494
150.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 $3.14
$4.97 MX$92.3
-36.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$3.33 MX$61.9
-48.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.97 $29.97
$5.36 MX$99.5
459.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.44 MX$26.82
-40.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$20.7K MX$383.8K
35.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$23.5K MX$435.8K
3.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 $164
$84.8 MX$1,575
93.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.88 $24.88
$23.41 MX$435
6.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$28.66 MX$532
136.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 $41.64
$57.1 MX$1,059
-27.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$537
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$5.14 MX$95.4
192.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,420 $1,420
$207 MX$3,836
587.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$3,927 MX$72.9K
484.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.22 $22.22
$43.35 MX$805
-48.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39 $25.39
$41.44 MX$770
-38.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 $65.9
$74.2 MX$1,378
-11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4 $96.4
$89.3 MX$1,657
7.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$887 $887
$980 MX$18.2K
-9.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 $673
$381 MX$7,072
76.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 $1,259
$1,708 MX$31.7K
-26.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 $1,081
$1,075 MX$20.0K
0.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,718 $2,718
$3,943 MX$73.2K
-31.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,423 $2,423
$6,158 MX$114.4K
-60.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nacogdoches, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,934 $6,934
$735 MX$13.6K
844.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
11.45
-42.18%

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

Last update for Nacogdoches, TX: October 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nacogdoches, TX
$673
Playa del Carmen
$381 43.4% $293
Groceries & Markets
Nacogdoches, TX
$318
Playa del Carmen
$255 20% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nacogdoches, TX
$257
Playa del Carmen
$137 46.7% $120
Eating Out
Nacogdoches, TX
$236
Playa del Carmen
$202 14.3% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Nacogdoches, TX
$94
Playa del Carmen
$112 18.3% $17
Getting Around
Nacogdoches, TX
$86
Playa del Carmen
$50 41.7% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Nacogdoches, TX
$72
Playa del Carmen
$67 6.1% $4.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $887 in Nacogdoches, TX and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nacogdoches, TX pays about 9.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $37 in Nacogdoches, TX vs $43 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $255, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Nacogdoches, TX
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
21:42 9:42 PM
22:42 10:42 PM
1 h ahead of Nacogdoches, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
32,147
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nacogdoches, TX Playa del Carmen 1,430 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nacogdoches, TX
  • 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
Nacogdoches, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nacogdoches, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,737 in Nacogdoches, TX and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, so Playa del Carmen is about 31% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Nacogdoches, TX or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Nacogdoches, TX is about 9.4 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Nacogdoches, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $887 in Nacogdoches, TX versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Nacogdoches, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 60% less than in Nacogdoches, TX. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nacogdoches, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,420 in Nacogdoches, TX versus $207 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,737 in Nacogdoches, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nacogdoches, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nacogdoches, TX and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Nacogdoches, TX and Playa del Carmen?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Nacogdoches, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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