Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,684 in Orem, UT versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,718 in Orem, UT versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,752 in Orem, UT versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Orem, UT is roughly 111% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Orem, UT is 100% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.09 $15.09

$11.87 MX$204

27.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 $59.9

$42.90 MX$736

39.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 $10.97

$10.65 MX$183

3.00%

Cappuccino

$6.09 $6.09

$3.45 MX$59.2

76.52%

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

$1.78 $1.78

$1.50 MX$25.81

18.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.95 MX$16.28

33.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$3.03 MX$51.9

97.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.65 $7.65

$4.61 MX$79.1

65.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.38 MX$23.61

-28.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.85 MX$31.70

76.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.61 MX$27.65

35.40%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$2.59 MX$44.51

12.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$8.26 MX$142

65.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$8.37 MX$144

55.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.29 $21.29

$10.66 MX$183

99.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.63 MX$45.12

43.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 MX$25.53

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.92 MX$32.94

60.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$2.09 MX$35.81

155.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.86 MX$31.88

9.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.26 MX$38.81

-12.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.06 MX$18.23

73.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.09 MX$18.67

76.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.81 $8.81

$4.15 MX$71.2

112.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$10.39 MX$178

41.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.72 MX$29.59

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.61 MX$44.85

16.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.54 MX$9.30

357.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.8 $84.8

$26.94 MX$462

214.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.13 MX$53.7

-53.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 $0.89

$2.51 MX$43.09

-64.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.86 $19.86

$3.15 MX$54.1

530.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.27 MX$21.88

-25.98%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-23.79%

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

$22.6K $22.6K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

-4.01%

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

$147 $147

$83.0 MX$1,425

77.17%

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

$47.99 $47.99

$22.71 MX$390

111.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$29.46 MX$506

124.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.58 $30.58

$51.0 MX$875

-40.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 $12.50

$4.93 MX$84.5

153.55%

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

$954 $954

$197 MX$3,386

383.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,900 $9,900

$5,280 MX$90.6K

87.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$36.90 MX$633

45.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.56 $34.56

$39.89 MX$685

-13.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 $84.4

$80.0 MX$1,373

5.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 $160

$89.5 MX$1,536

79.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,773 $1,773

$956 MX$16.4K

85.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,458 $1,458

$477 MX$8,189

205.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,599 $3,599

$1,646 MX$28.3K

118.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,000 $2,000

$1,225 MX$21.0K

63.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,269 $2,269

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-42.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,281 $2,281

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-64.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,449 $3,449

$667 MX$11.4K

417.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

11.42

-39.84%

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

Last update for Orem, UT: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,773 in Orem, UT and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Orem, UT pays 417% 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: $60.0 in Orem, UT vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $250 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

Orem, UT 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 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Orem, UT pays 417% more on average, 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: $1,773 in Orem, UT versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Orem, UT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $60.0 in Orem, UT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,684 in Orem, UT, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Orem, UT. 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 Orem, UT, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Orem, UT and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Orem, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.