Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Palo Alto, CA is 96.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 288.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Palo Alto, CA is 166.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 215.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.92 $24.92
$11.99 MX$227
107.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 $111
$42.47 MX$803
162.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$10.47 MX$198
8.31%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$3.6 MX$68.2
59.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 $3.24
$1.44 MX$27.16
125.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.89 MX$16.79
185.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.14 $8.14
$3.09 MX$58.5
163.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.03 $10.03
$4.58 MX$86.6
119.00%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.38 MX$26.04
6.52%
White Bread (500g)
$4.99 $4.99
$1.85 MX$34.9
169.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.57 MX$29.68
103.18%
Eggs
$6.16 $6.16
$2.55 MX$48.3
141.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.55 $21.55
$8.61 MX$163
150.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.78 $14.78
$8.54 MX$161
73.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.82 $22.82
$10.98 MX$208
107.83%
Apples (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$2.72 MX$51.4
155.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.51 MX$28.57
69.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$1.88 MX$35.63
157.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$2.19 MX$41.42
208.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$1.87 MX$35.3
108.02%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.19 MX$41.37
99.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$1.07 MX$20.23
171.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.09 MX$20.64
162.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.11 $11.11
$3.96 MX$74.9
180.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.33 $18.33
$8.86 MX$167
106.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.72 MX$32.53
31.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.61 MX$49.37
28.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.52 MX$9.74
390.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.6 $89.6
$26.59 MX$503
236.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.24 MX$61.2
26.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.38 MX$44.94
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.51 $30.51
$3.11 MX$58.7
881.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.31 MX$24.85
-3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$30.3K MX$573K
-2.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$24K MX$453.6K
10.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$84.2 MX$1,592
166.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.97 $47.97
$22.14 MX$419
116.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$30.14 MX$570
127.60%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 $120
$52 MX$983
131.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.88 $19.88
$18.72 MX$354
6.20%
Cinema Ticket
$15.78 $15.78
$5.07 MX$95.9
211.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,710 $2,710
$200 MX$3,787
1252.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$45.7K $45.7K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
756.06%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$35.74 MX$676
48.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76 $44.76
$39.8 MX$753
12.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$79 MX$1,493
13.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$88.4 MX$1,671
53.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,473 $3,473
$965 MX$18.3K
259.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,227 $3,227
$474 MX$8,968
580.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,889 $5,889
$1,653 MX$31.2K
256.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,757 $5,757
$1,202 MX$22.7K
378.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,539 $2,539
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-17.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,123 $2,123
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-71.81%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Palo Alto, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$10K $10K
$792 MX$15K
1163.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

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

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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