Cost of Living Comparison Between Nampa, ID and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Nampa, ID and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,325 in Nampa, ID versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Nampa, ID versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,993 in Nampa, ID versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nampa, ID is roughly 78% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nampa, ID is 69% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.80 $14.80

$11.96 MX$202

23.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 $71.0

$47.38 MX$800

49.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.70 $12.70

$11.75 MX$198

8.09%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$4.12 MX$69.6

29.85%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.40 MX$23.63

86.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.91 MX$15.40

125.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.21 MX$54.1

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 $6.47

$7.07 MX$119

-8.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.68 MX$28.31

-45.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.15 MX$36.31

26.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.77 MX$29.96

144.07%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$2.82 MX$47.54

58.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$9.20 MX$155

53.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$9.23 MX$156

-15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.38 $14.38

$12.64 MX$213

13.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$2.95 MX$49.83

60.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.58 MX$26.66

-27.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.22 MX$37.53

82.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.36 MX$39.90

104.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.99 MX$33.65

44.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.98 MX$33.42

31.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.24 MX$20.94

93.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.21 MX$20.46

106.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.44 $9.44

$4.60 MX$77.7

105.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$10.52 MX$178

-32.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.69 MX$28.56

23.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.77 MX$46.84

-48.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.24 MX$88.4

-51.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.65 MX$61.6

-59.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.84 $23.84

$5.78 MX$97.7

312.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.54 MX$25.97

-41.56%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$22.8K MX$385.0K

59.01%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.8K MX$435.8K

-2.07%

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

$165 $165

$90.7 MX$1,531

82.35%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$25.19 MX$425

141.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$31.75 MX$536

127.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.78 $34.78

$68.8 MX$1,162

-49.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$496

Cinema Ticket

$10.65 $10.65

$4.86 MX$82.1

119.14%

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

$961 $961

$226 MX$3,811

325.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$4,194 MX$70.8K

480.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$47.38 MX$800

15.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.20 $41.20

$43.45 MX$734

-5.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.9 $75.9

$80.2 MX$1,355

-5.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 $71.8

$91.4 MX$1,543

-21.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 $1,230

$1,086 MX$18.3K

13.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$409 MX$6,900

189.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 $1,729

$1,972 MX$33.3K

-12.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,281 MX$21.6K

24.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,634 $3,634

$773 MX$13.1K

369.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

11.45

-46.90%

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

Last update for Nampa, ID: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,230 in Nampa, ID and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nampa, ID pays 370% 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: $71.0 in Nampa, ID vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $278 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

Nampa, ID vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nampa, ID and Playa del Carmen differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($2,325 vs $1,305 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 370% higher in Nampa, ID, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,230 in Nampa, ID versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Nampa, ID. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,325 per month in Nampa, ID versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,325 in Nampa, ID, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nampa, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Nampa, ID. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.