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: $3,078 in Newark, NJ versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,591 in Newark, NJ versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,105 in Newark, NJ versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Newark, NJ is roughly 139% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newark, NJ is 130% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.15 $20.15

$11.94 MX$208

68.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.8 $90.8

$42.75 MX$744

112.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$10.59 MX$184

14.26%

Cappuccino

$4.94 $4.94

$3.62 MX$63.0

36.46%

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

$2.71 $2.71

$1.47 MX$25.54

84.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.94 MX$16.41

111.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.09 MX$53.8

88.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.46 MX$77.6

54.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.43 MX$24.80

-2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.88 MX$32.79

138.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.15 $8.15

$1.63 MX$28.34

400.00%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$2.64 MX$45.99

119.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.07 $15.07

$8.21 MX$143

83.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$8.29 MX$144

101.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.03 $21.03

$11.10 MX$193

89.46%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 $7.46

$2.65 MX$46.14

181.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.50 MX$26.11

65.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$1.99 MX$34.59

195.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$2.08 MX$36.13

200.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.79 MX$31.11

115.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.18 MX$37.87

80.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.08 MX$18.73

176.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.04 MX$18.04

145.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.98 $12.98

$3.97 MX$69.1

226.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.74 $19.74

$10.20 MX$178

93.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.73 MX$30.04

13.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.50 MX$43.46

52.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.16 $6.16

$0.52 MX$9.02

1084.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

$26.97 MX$469

105.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.14 MX$54.7

-3.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.40 MX$41.80

-43.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.57 $21.57

$3.09 MX$53.7

598.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.27 MX$22.16

-32.28%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-2.63%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

16.06%

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

$275 $275

$82.0 MX$1,427

234.73%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$22.45 MX$391

180.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.7 $75.7

$29.66 MX$516

155.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.39 $30.39

$51.9 MX$903

-41.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 $17.26

$18.67 MX$325

-7.55%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$4.97 MX$86.5

206.84%

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

$2,109 $2,109

$198 MX$3,442

966.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.5K $42.5K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

706.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$36.34 MX$632

43.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.21 $41.21

$40.05 MX$697

2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$79.9 MX$1,390

37.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 $168

$88.9 MX$1,547

88.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$963 MX$16.8K

141.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$465 MX$8,086

237.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,259 $3,259

$1,596 MX$27.8K

104.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,564 $2,564

$1,209 MX$21.0K

112.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,595 $5,595

$3,942 MX$68.6K

41.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,558 $5,558

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-13.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,603 $3,603

$720 MX$12.5K

400.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

11.42

-41.94%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Newark, NJ and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 400% 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: $91.0 in Newark, NJ vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $532 vs $251 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 139% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Newark, NJ pays 400% more on average, 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: $2,326 in Newark, NJ versus $963 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 105% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,109 in Newark, NJ versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,078 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 139% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.