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: $2,550 in Orem, UT versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,534 in Orem, UT versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,518 in Orem, UT versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Orem, UT is roughly 95% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Orem, UT is 85% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.21 $15.21

$11.96 MX$203

27.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 $59.2

$47.38 MX$804

24.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$11.75 MX$199

-4.60%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$4.12 MX$70.0

10.68%

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

$1.88 $1.88

$1.40 MX$23.74

34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.91 MX$15.48

61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$3.21 MX$54.4

86.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$7.07 MX$120

-3.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.68 MX$28.44

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.15 MX$36.48

46.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.77 MX$30.10

38.42%

Eggs

$2.92 $2.92

$2.82 MX$47.76

3.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$9.20 MX$156

53.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.02 $13.02

$9.23 MX$157

41.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 $19.26

$12.64 MX$214

52.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.95 MX$50.1

-0.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.58 MX$26.79

5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.22 MX$37.70

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.36 MX$40.09

84.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.98 MX$33.58

-36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.24 MX$21.04

35.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.21 MX$20.55

61.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 $8.80

$4.60 MX$78.1

91.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.52 MX$178

43.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.69 MX$28.70

29.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.77 MX$47.06

9.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.60 MX$10.22

306.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.8 $81.8

$29.70 MX$504

175.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 $1.49

$5.24 MX$88.8

-71.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.95 $0.95

$3.65 MX$61.9

-73.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.07 $20.07

$5.78 MX$98.1

247.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.54 MX$26.09

-34.42%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

1.92%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-4.24%

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

$162 $162

$90.7 MX$1,538

78.64%

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

$43.44 $43.44

$25.19 MX$427

72.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 $62.7

$31.75 MX$539

97.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.08 $30.08

$68.8 MX$1,167

-56.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$14.92 $14.92

$4.86 MX$82.5

207.00%

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

$935 $935

$226 MX$3,828

314.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K $10.2K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

142.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$47.38 MX$804

13.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.39 $41.39

$43.45 MX$737

-4.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 $84.1

$80.2 MX$1,361

4.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$91.4 MX$1,550

43.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$1,086 MX$18.4K

60.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 $1,388

$409 MX$6,933

239.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$1,972 MX$33.5K

11.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,857 $1,857

$1,281 MX$21.7K

44.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 $2,319

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-42.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 $2,332

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-65.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,637 $3,637

$773 MX$13.1K

370.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

11.45

-41.66%

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

Last update for Orem, UT: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,740 in Orem, UT and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Orem, UT pays 370% 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: $59.0 in Orem, UT vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $278 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 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 370% higher in Orem, UT, 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: $1,740 in Orem, UT versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% 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 $47.00 versus $59.0 in Orem, UT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,550 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 95% less than in Orem, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.