😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,592 in Parma, OH versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,580 in Parma, OH versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,567 in Parma, OH versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Parma, OH is roughly 100% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Parma, OH is 93% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.78$17.78
$11.73MX$203
51.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5$66.5
$41.62MX$721
59.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91$9.91
$10.64MX$184
-6.86%
Cappuccino
$4.97$4.97
$3.52MX$61.0
41.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$1.51MX$26.17
45.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$0.97MX$16.87
97.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05$5.05
$2.95MX$51.1
71.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08$7.08
$4.45MX$77.2
59.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.38MX$23.97
-36.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03$3.03
$1.89MX$32.78
60.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.24$4.24
$1.64MX$28.37
158.54%
Eggs
$3.42$3.42
$2.51MX$43.42
36.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.58$11.58
$8.34MX$145
38.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.33$12.33
$8.34MX$145
47.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.47$20.47
$10.73MX$186
90.77%
Apples(1kg)
$4.49$4.49
$2.60MX$45.12
72.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33$1.33
$1.46MX$25.25
-8.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41$3.41
$1.90MX$32.94
79.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.47$4.47
$2.08MX$35.98
114.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11$2.11
$1.78MX$30.77
18.54%
Onion(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$2.19MX$37.87
37.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63$2.63
$1.04MX$18.02
152.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$1.08MX$18.66
109.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93$9.93
$4.08MX$70.7
143.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81$14.81
$10.32MX$179
43.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$1.71MX$29.67
13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$2.58MX$44.63
-3.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.51MX$8.83
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.57$2.57
$3.26MX$56.5
-21.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44$1.44
$2.49MX$43.17
-42.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.15$26.15
$3.25MX$56.3
704.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.31MX$22.65
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K$34.1K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
12.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K$24.7K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254$254
$82.9MX$1,436
206.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.8$55.8
$22.22MX$385
151.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2$64.2
$29.34MX$508
118.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.70$42.70
$51.6MX$895
-17.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.95$11.95
$5.07MX$87.8
135.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$992$992
$201MX$3,480
393.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K$17.7K
$5,212MX$90.3K
239.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9$55.9
$36.92MX$640
51.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.02$35.02
$39.79MX$689
-11.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113$113
$78.5MX$1,360
43.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141$141
$87.1MX$1,509
62.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,583$1,583
$973MX$16.9K
62.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,380$1,380
$468MX$8,105
195.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579$1,579
$1,641MX$28.4K
-3.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,795$1,795
$1,221MX$21.2K
47.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Parma, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,609$3,609
$664MX$11.5K
443.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
11.42
-43.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Parma, OH: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,583 in Parma, OH and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Parma, OH pays 444% 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: $66.0 in Parma, OH vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 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
Parma, OH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Parma, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 100% lower than in Parma, OH. 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 Parma, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Parma, OH pays 444% 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 Parma, OH vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,583 in Parma, OH versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Parma, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Parma, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Parma, OH compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,592 per month in Parma, OH versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Parma, OH or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,592 in Parma, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Parma, OH. 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, Parma, OH 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.
How safe is Parma, OH compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Parma, OH 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Parma, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.