Cost of Living Comparison Between Oklahoma City, OK and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Oklahoma City, OK and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,308 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,291 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,273 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 78% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Oklahoma City, OK is 72% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76 $14.76
$11.73 MX$205
25.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 $80.1
$41.62 MX$727
92.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 $10.97
$10.64 MX$186
3.10%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.52 MX$61.5
57.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.51 MX$26.37
68.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.97 MX$17.00
97.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$2.95 MX$51.5
102.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89 $5.89
$4.45 MX$77.8
32.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.38 MX$24.16
-22.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.89 MX$33.04
43.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.64 MX$28.59
152.44%
Eggs
$5.21 $5.21
$2.51 MX$43.76
107.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.58 $11.58
$8.34 MX$146
38.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.98 $10.98
$8.34 MX$146
31.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 $11.53
$10.73 MX$187
7.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.60 MX$45.48
70.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.46 MX$25.45
5.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.90 MX$33.19
125.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.08 MX$36.26
115.38%
Potato (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$1.78 MX$31.01
124.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.19 MX$38.16
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.04 MX$18.16
98.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.08 MX$18.80
121.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00 $11.00
$4.08 MX$71.3
169.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 $14.82
$10.32 MX$180
43.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.71 MX$29.90
7.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.58 MX$44.98
-9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$0.51 MX$8.90
380.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.9 $50.9
$26.46 MX$462
92.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$3.26 MX$57.0
-14.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.49 MX$43.51
-48.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.22 $30.22
$3.25 MX$56.7
829.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.31 MX$22.83
-41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$30.3K MX$528.8K
-0.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$23.4K MX$409.2K
13.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 $233
$82.9 MX$1,447
181.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.4 $72.4
$22.22 MX$388
225.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.1 $81.1
$29.34 MX$512
176.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.24 $31.24
$51.6 MX$902
-39.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.71 $29.71
$18.32 MX$320
62.17%
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 $15.02
$5.07 MX$88.5
196.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,582 $1,582
$201 MX$3,507
687.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$5,212 MX$91.0K
357.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 $56.0
$36.92 MX$645
51.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.46 $39.46
$39.79 MX$695
-0.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$78.5 MX$1,370
31.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 $156
$87.1 MX$1,521
79.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 $1,016
$973 MX$17.0K
4.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 $1,008
$468 MX$8,169
115.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,508 $2,508
$1,641 MX$28.7K
52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 $1,339
$1,221 MX$21.3K
9.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,441 $2,441
$3,946 MX$68.9K
-38.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,711 $1,711
$6,498 MX$113.5K
-73.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oklahoma City, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,757 $3,757
$664 MX$11.6K
465.86%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Oklahoma City, OK and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oklahoma City, OK pays 466% 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: $80.0 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 $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
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 78% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Oklahoma City, OK pays 466% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $973 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 92% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,582 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $201 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,308 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 $1,297 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 78% less than in Oklahoma City, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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