😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,405 in Ogden, UT versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,430 in Ogden, UT versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,454 in Ogden, UT versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Ogden, UT is roughly 85% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ogden, UT is 79% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.25$14.25
$11.73MX$203
21.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6$60.6
$41.62MX$720
45.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.32$11.32
$10.64MX$184
6.39%
Cappuccino
$4.93$4.93
$3.52MX$60.9
40.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32$2.32
$1.51MX$26.12
53.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$0.97MX$16.84
86.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.34$5.34
$2.95MX$51.0
81.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68$7.68
$4.45MX$77.0
72.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.38MX$23.93
-34.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84$2.84
$1.89MX$32.72
50.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.39$3.39
$1.64MX$28.32
106.71%
Eggs
$4.28$4.28
$2.51MX$43.34
70.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.01$10.01
$8.34MX$144
20.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.44$8.44
$8.34MX$144
1.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.45$14.45
$10.73MX$186
34.67%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$2.60MX$45.04
66.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$1.46MX$25.20
19.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01$3.01
$1.90MX$32.87
58.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.31$3.31
$2.08MX$35.91
59.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.78MX$30.71
-7.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02$2.02
$2.19MX$37.80
-7.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87$1.87
$1.04MX$17.99
79.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$1.08MX$18.62
81.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.02$8.02
$4.08MX$70.6
96.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.68$14.68
$10.32MX$178
42.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.71MX$29.61
2.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$2.58MX$44.54
-14.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.56$2.56
$0.51MX$8.81
401.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.9$85.9
$26.46MX$458
224.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55$2.55
$3.26MX$56.4
-21.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39$1.39
$2.49MX$43.09
-44.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.30$25.30
$3.25MX$56.2
678.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.31MX$22.61
-30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K$24.7K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-18.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
4.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179$179
$82.9MX$1,433
115.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.44$40.44
$22.22MX$384
82.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2$61.2
$29.34MX$507
108.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.79$19.79
$51.6MX$893
-61.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.06$11.06
$5.07MX$87.6
118.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,007$1,007
$201MX$3,473
401.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K$18.2K
$5,212MX$90.1K
249.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.60$44.60
$36.92MX$639
20.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38$44.38
$39.79MX$688
11.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.1$89.1
$78.5MX$1,357
13.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$87.1MX$1,506
28.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,415$1,415
$973MX$16.8K
45.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,245$1,245
$468MX$8,090
166.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,391$2,391
$1,641MX$28.4K
45.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,015$2,015
$1,221MX$21.1K
65.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,571$2,571
$3,946MX$68.3K
-34.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,477$2,477
$6,498MX$112.4K
-61.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ogden, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,423$3,423
$664MX$11.5K
415.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.43
11.42
-43.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ogden, UT: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Ogden, UT and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ogden, UT pays 416% 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 Ogden, UT vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 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
Ogden, UT vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ogden, UT?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ogden, UT or Playa del Carmen?
Ogden, UT pays 416% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ogden, UT and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,415 in Ogden, UT versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ogden, UT vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,405 per month in Ogden, UT versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 225% less than in Ogden, UT. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ogden, UT or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,405 in Ogden, UT, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ogden, UT. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ogden, UT or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ogden, UT, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Ogden, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.