Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,065 in Newark, NJ versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,512 in Newark, NJ versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,959 in Newark, NJ versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Newark, NJ is roughly 135% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newark, NJ is 122% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.23 $20.23

$11.96 MX$203

69.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$47.38 MX$804

113.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.75 MX$199

18.30%

Cappuccino

$6.52 $6.52

$4.12 MX$70.0

58.25%

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

$3.74 $3.74

$1.40 MX$23.74

167.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.91 MX$15.48

170.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$3.21 MX$54.4

148.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.07 MX$120

39.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.68 MX$28.44

-17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.15 MX$36.48

107.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.03 $7.03

$1.77 MX$30.10

297.18%

Eggs

$5.83 $5.83

$2.82 MX$47.76

106.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 $7.28

$9.20 MX$156

-20.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.32 $15.32

$9.23 MX$157

65.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.40 $20.40

$12.64 MX$214

61.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.95 MX$50.1

108.81%

Banana (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.58 MX$26.79

107.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$2.22 MX$37.70

164.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.34 $6.34

$2.36 MX$40.09

168.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.99 MX$33.81

69.85%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.98 MX$33.58

107.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.24 MX$21.04

123.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.21 MX$20.55

101.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 $12.21

$4.60 MX$78.1

165.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.39 $20.39

$10.52 MX$178

93.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.69 MX$28.70

12.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.77 MX$47.06

0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.17 $6.17

$0.60 MX$10.22

928.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 $55.8

$29.70 MX$504

87.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$5.24 MX$88.8

-42.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.65 MX$61.9

-41.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$5.78 MX$98.1

633.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.54 MX$26.09

-37.01%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

52.58%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-1.98%

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

$215 $215

$90.7 MX$1,538

137.44%

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

$74.7 $74.7

$25.19 MX$427

196.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$31.75 MX$539

134.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.81 $29.81

$68.8 MX$1,167

-56.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.36 $17.36

$29.37 MX$498

-40.89%

Cinema Ticket

$14.47 $14.47

$4.86 MX$82.5

197.74%

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

$2,173 $2,173

$226 MX$3,828

862.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.3K $61.3K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

1360.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 $59.1

$47.38 MX$804

24.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.54 $28.54

$43.45 MX$737

-34.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$80.2 MX$1,361

48.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$91.4 MX$1,550

35.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 $2,300

$1,086 MX$18.4K

111.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,566 $1,566

$409 MX$6,933

283.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,227 $4,227

$1,972 MX$33.5K

114.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$1,281 MX$21.7K

105.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,720 $5,720

$4,046 MX$68.6K

41.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,684 $5,684

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-15.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,604 $3,604

$773 MX$13.1K

365.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

11.45

-44.10%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,300 in Newark, NJ and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 366% 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: $101 in Newark, NJ vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $490 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

Newark, NJ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 135% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 366% higher in Newark, NJ, 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: $2,300 in Newark, NJ versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 88% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,173 in Newark, NJ versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,065 in Newark, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Newark, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Newark, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.