Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Newport News, VA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,957 in Newport News, VA versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,260 in Newport News, VA versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Newport News, VA is roughly 111% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Newport News, VA is 99% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.38 $27.38

$11.99 MX$210

128.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.1 $61.1

$41.78 MX$731

46.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.49 $10.49

$10.75 MX$188

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$3.50 MX$61.1

65.43%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$1.45 MX$25.33

97.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.88 MX$15.47

165.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$2.95 MX$51.6

66.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.54 $7.54

$4.51 MX$78.9

67.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.43 MX$25.04

-26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.84 MX$32.13

108.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.57 MX$27.42

87.26%

Eggs

$2.99 $2.99

$2.51 MX$43.92

19.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$8.28 MX$145

16.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.37 $15.37

$8.43 MX$147

82.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$10.68 MX$187

79.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.61 MX$45.62

131.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.44 MX$25.15

-25.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$1.96 MX$34.31

161.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.09 MX$36.62

109.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.85 MX$32.37

48.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.17 MX$37.90

51.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.03 MX$18.04

101.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.07 MX$18.78

138.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.71 $7.71

$4.10 MX$71.7

88.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.92 $15.92

$10.17 MX$178

56.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.68 MX$29.29

5.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.53 MX$44.17

82.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.51 MX$8.90

380.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.5 $55.5

$26.04 MX$455

113.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.23 MX$56.5

21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 $1.31

$2.41 MX$42.06

-45.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$3.23 MX$56.5

816.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.32 MX$23.10

-34.09%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

2.33%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

9.47%

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

$205 $205

$82.0 MX$1,434

149.85%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$22.95 MX$401

159.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$30.11 MX$527

126.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.31 $40.31

$52.0 MX$909

-22.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$13.43 $13.43

$4.98 MX$87.0

169.68%

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

$2,685 $2,685

$197 MX$3,452

1259.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.0K $41.0K

$5,336 MX$93.3K

667.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.06 $42.06

$35.60 MX$622

18.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$40.33 MX$705

25.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$78.8 MX$1,377

31.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$88.9 MX$1,555

15.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 $1,452

$947 MX$16.6K

53.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 $1,220

$474 MX$8,288

157.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,237 $2,237

$1,644 MX$28.7K

36.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,211 MX$21.2K

85.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 $2,300

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-43.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,245 $2,245

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-65.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,928 $3,928

$654 MX$11.4K

500.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.42

-43.52%

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

Last update for Newport News, VA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,452 in Newport News, VA and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newport News, VA pays 501% 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: $61.0 in Newport News, VA vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $249 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

Newport News, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News, VA and Playa del Carmen differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($2,653 vs $1,256 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 501% higher in Newport News, VA, 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: $1,452 in Newport News, VA versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,653 per month in Newport News, VA versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 113% less than in Newport News, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,653 in Newport News, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Newport News, VA. 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 111% less than in Newport News, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.