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: $3,115 in Newark, NJ versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,568 in Newark, NJ versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,020 in Newark, NJ versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Newark, NJ is roughly 147% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newark, NJ is 134% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.95 $19.95

$11.72 MX$204

70.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$41.89 MX$731

110.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$10.51 MX$183

12.08%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.59 MX$62.5

39.83%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.51 MX$26.31

72.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.92 MX$15.96

113.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.96 MX$51.6

102.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$4.41 MX$76.9

62.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.40 MX$24.35

1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.37 $4.37

$1.88 MX$32.87

132.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.10 $8.10

$1.56 MX$27.19

419.23%

Eggs

$5.65 $5.65

$2.61 MX$45.50

116.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$8.32 MX$145

81.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.34 $16.34

$8.35 MX$146

95.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.30 $21.30

$10.86 MX$189

96.13%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$2.71 MX$47.31

174.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.51 MX$26.25

62.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$1.87 MX$32.67

202.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$2.19 MX$38.19

188.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.86 MX$32.40

97.31%

Onion (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$2.23 MX$38.90

79.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.07 MX$18.63

178.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.09 MX$18.94

132.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.11 $13.11

$4.19 MX$73.0

212.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.89 $19.89

$10.43 MX$182

90.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.66 MX$28.91

18.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.61 MX$45.56

45.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.89 $5.89

$0.54 MX$9.45

990.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 $55.9

$26.16 MX$456

113.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.08 MX$53.7

-4.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.40 MX$41.94

-42.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.72 $21.72

$3.13 MX$54.5

593.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.31 MX$22.87

-30.53%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-1.29%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

18.01%

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

$274 $274

$81.3 MX$1,418

236.71%

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

$61.4 $61.4

$22.56 MX$393

172.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$30.05 MX$524

148.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.42 $30.42

$52.9 MX$923

-42.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.41 $17.41

$18.39 MX$321

-5.33%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$4.92 MX$85.8

206.91%

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

$2,055 $2,055

$201 MX$3,502

923.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.4K $43.4K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

739.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 $53.4

$35.92 MX$627

48.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.47 $42.47

$40.13 MX$700

5.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$79.7 MX$1,390

38.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$86.5 MX$1,508

98.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,306 $2,306

$978 MX$17.1K

135.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$470 MX$8,206

235.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 $3,250

$1,651 MX$28.8K

96.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,568 $2,568

$1,203 MX$21.0K

113.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,615 $5,615

$3,953 MX$69.0K

42.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,599 $5,599

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-15.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,627 $3,627

$677 MX$11.8K

436.00%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,306 in Newark, NJ and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 436% 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: $88.0 in Newark, NJ vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $528 vs $252 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 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 436% 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: $2,306 in Newark, NJ versus $978 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 114% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,055 in Newark, NJ versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,115 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 147% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.