Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bedford, MA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,472 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,195 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,919 per month in New Bedford, MA vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Bedford, MA costs about 95% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

New Bedford, MA sits 84% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.21 $12.21

$11.87 MX$204

2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 $52.6

$42.90 MX$736

22.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.94 $11.94

$10.65 MX$183

12.11%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$3.45 MX$59.2

27.83%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$1.50 MX$25.81

88.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.95 MX$16.28

112.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.03 MX$51.9

30.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.61 MX$79.1

32.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.38 MX$23.61

-21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.85 MX$31.70

139.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.61 MX$27.65

236.65%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$2.59 MX$44.51

87.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$8.26 MX$142

117.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.28 $13.28

$8.37 MX$144

58.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.66 MX$183

33.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$2.63 MX$45.12

146.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.49 MX$25.53

30.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$1.92 MX$32.94

204.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.99 $5.99

$2.09 MX$35.81

186.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.86 MX$31.88

71.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.26 MX$38.81

60.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.06 MX$18.23

85.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.09 MX$18.67

94.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 $13.77

$4.15 MX$71.2

231.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.96 $11.96

$10.39 MX$178

15.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.72 MX$29.59

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.61 MX$44.85

-5.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.54 MX$9.30

264.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.79 $27.79

$26.94 MX$462

3.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.13 MX$53.7

70.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.51 MX$43.09

-19.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.58 $29.58

$3.15 MX$54.1

839.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.27 MX$21.88

-29.92%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-6.22%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

7.25%

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

$131 $131

$83.0 MX$1,425

57.84%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$22.71 MX$390

131.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.87 $45.87

$29.46 MX$506

55.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 $29.52

$51.0 MX$875

-42.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 $11.87

$4.93 MX$84.5

140.77%

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

$1,278 $1,278

$197 MX$3,386

547.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.3K $33.3K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

529.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.13 $35.13

$36.90 MX$633

-4.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.91 $37.91

$39.89 MX$685

-4.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 $55.2

$80.0 MX$1,373

-30.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 $98.1

$89.5 MX$1,536

9.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 $1,489

$956 MX$16.4K

55.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,345 $1,345

$477 MX$8,189

181.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 $1,689

$1,646 MX$28.3K

2.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$1,225 MX$21.0K

20.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,902 $3,902

$667 MX$11.4K

485.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

11.42

-44.13%

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

Last update for New Bedford, MA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in New Bedford, MA versus $956 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 485% higher in New Bedford, MA, 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 $53.0 in New Bedford, MA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 vs $250 – 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

New Bedford, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,472 in New Bedford, MA, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 95% apart. New Bedford, MA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,708 per month in New Bedford, MA and $1,906 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,278 per month in New Bedford, MA and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 78% more in New Bedford, MA, 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 $1,271, than in New Bedford, MA at $2,472. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Bedford, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,472 in New Bedford, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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