😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,336 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,278 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,221 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 86% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oklahoma City, OK is 75% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17$15.17
$11.95MX$208
26.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3$79.3
$41.94MX$730
89.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.97$10.97
$10.42MX$181
5.28%
Cappuccino
$5.61$5.61
$3.51MX$61.2
59.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$1.52MX$26.39
66.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$0.91MX$15.84
102.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96$5.96
$3.04MX$52.9
96.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90$5.90
$4.37MX$76.1
35.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$1.42MX$24.73
-20.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72$2.72
$1.83MX$31.87
48.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$1.63MX$28.45
146.63%
Eggs
$5.04$5.04
$2.54MX$44.20
98.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.74$11.74
$8.57MX$149
36.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.98$10.98
$8.49MX$148
29.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50$11.50
$10.80MX$188
6.48%
Apples(1kg)
$4.54$4.54
$2.75MX$47.94
65.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57$1.57
$1.44MX$25.00
9.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18$4.18
$1.89MX$32.83
121.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.48$4.48
$2.17MX$37.77
106.45%
Potato(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$1.78MX$30.97
136.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$2.22MX$38.71
-2.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.07MX$18.60
89.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30$2.30
$1.08MX$18.79
112.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83$10.83
$4.15MX$72.2
160.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.80$14.80
$10.45MX$182
41.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$1.74MX$30.34
11.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29$2.29
$2.58MX$44.92
-11.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47$2.47
$0.51MX$8.94
384.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.0$51.0
$25.94MX$451
96.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73$2.73
$3.21MX$55.9
-14.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22$1.22
$2.50MX$43.55
-51.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.16$30.16
$3.19MX$55.4
845.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.26MX$21.87
-34.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K$30.0K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
1.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
13.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231$231
$82.0MX$1,427
181.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.1$73.1
$22.73MX$395
221.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5$80.5
$29.42MX$512
173.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.02$32.02
$52.2MX$908
-38.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.72$29.72
$18.45MX$321
61.08%
Cinema Ticket
$15.09$15.09
$4.93MX$85.9
206.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,575$1,575
$202MX$3,511
680.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,217MX$90.8K
347.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3$55.3
$35.93MX$625
54.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.01$38.01
$40.33MX$702
-5.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103$103
$79.9MX$1,390
29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154$154
$89.3MX$1,554
72.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,010$1,010
$948MX$16.5K
6.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$985$985
$465MX$8,097
111.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,538$2,538
$1,630MX$28.4K
55.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,337$1,337
$1,193MX$20.8K
12.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,547$2,547
$3,933MX$68.4K
-35.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,756$1,756
$6,428MX$111.9K
-72.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,672$3,672
$658MX$11.5K
457.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.52
11.42
-42.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oklahoma City, OK: July 22, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Oklahoma City, OK and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oklahoma City, OK pays 458% 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: $79.0 in Oklahoma City, OK vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 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
Oklahoma City, OK vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oklahoma City, OK or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Oklahoma City, OK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oklahoma City, OK or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 458% higher in Oklahoma City, OK, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oklahoma City, OK compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Oklahoma City, OK compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 96% less than in Oklahoma City, OK. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Oklahoma City, OK and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,575 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Oklahoma City, OK or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,336 in Oklahoma City, OK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Oklahoma City, OK. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oklahoma City, OK or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Oklahoma City, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Oklahoma City, OK vs other spots: cost of living compared