Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pembroke Pines, FL and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL, rent and utilities included – about $27,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pembroke Pines, FL, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Pembroke Pines, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,533
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pembroke Pines, FL and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pembroke Pines, FL and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Pembroke Pines, FL $3,533
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $4,922 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Pembroke Pines, FL $4,922
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $6,310 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Pembroke Pines, FL $6,310
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Pembroke Pines, FL costs about 193% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Pembroke Pines, FL sits 160% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.52 $30.52
$10.92 MX$204
179.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.2 $94.2
$43.37 MX$808
117.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.91 $14.91
$11.78 MX$220
26.57%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.81 MX$71.0
40.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.28 MX$23.90
99.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.78 MX$14.59
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$3.17 MX$59.0
87.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$4.93 MX$92.0
40.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.41 MX$26.22
-26.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.22 MX$41.33
41.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$1.42 MX$26.42
128.17%
Eggs
$4.60 $4.60
$2.52 MX$47.03
82.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 $13.14
$7.26 MX$135
80.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.29 $12.29
$7.70 MX$143
59.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.86 $19.86
$12.69 MX$237
56.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.78 MX$51.9
71.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.37 MX$25.50
45.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$2.55 MX$47.55
58.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$2.12 MX$39.58
165.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.94 MX$36.13
46.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$1.89 MX$35.16
68.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.15 MX$21.37
126.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.18 MX$21.98
51.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.16 $9.16
$4.30 MX$80.1
113.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.12 $13.12
$9.95 MX$185
31.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.58 MX$29.52
90.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$2.67 MX$49.79
-21.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.55 MX$10.31
440.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.68 $45.68
$26.62 MX$496
71.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.97 MX$92.6
-17.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$3.33 MX$62.1
-43.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.29 $24.29
$5.36 MX$99.8
353.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.44 MX$26.92
-29.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
35.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
14.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$84.8 MX$1,581
163.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$23.41 MX$436
185.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.7 $81.7
$28.66 MX$534
185.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.65 $28.65
$57.1 MX$1,063
-49.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.40 $13.40
$5.14 MX$95.8
160.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,026 $1,026
$207 MX$3,851
396.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$41.7K $41.7K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
961.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.68 $47.68
$43.35 MX$808
9.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 $41.33
$41.44 MX$772
-0.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$74.2 MX$1,383
45.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$89.3 MX$1,664
28.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,146 $2,146
$980 MX$18.3K
119.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,073 $2,073
$381 MX$7,099
444.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,082 $3,082
$1,708 MX$31.8K
80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,035 $3,035
$1,075 MX$20.0K
182.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,452 $2,452
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-37.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,517 $3,517
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-42.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pembroke Pines, FL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,344 $4,344
$735 MX$13.7K
491.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.45
-42.71%

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

Last update for Pembroke Pines, FL: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pembroke Pines, FL
$2.1K
Playa del Carmen
$381 81.6% $1.7K
Eating Out
Pembroke Pines, FL
$415
Playa del Carmen
$202 51.3% $213
Groceries & Markets
Pembroke Pines, FL
$406
Playa del Carmen
$255 37.2% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pembroke Pines, FL
$372
Playa del Carmen
$137 63.2% $235
Clothing & Footwear
Pembroke Pines, FL
$140
Playa del Carmen
$112 20.4% $29
Getting Around
Pembroke Pines, FL
$71
Playa del Carmen
$50 29% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Pembroke Pines, FL
$55
Playa del Carmen
$67 21.4% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,146 in Pembroke Pines, FL versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Pembroke Pines, FL are about 5.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94 in Pembroke Pines, FL versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Pembroke Pines, FL
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
17:23 5:23 PM
16:23 4:23 PM
1 h behind Pembroke Pines, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
150,064
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pembroke Pines, FL Playa del Carmen 920 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pembroke Pines, FL
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pembroke Pines, FL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Pembroke Pines, FL and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL, $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen comes out roughly 66% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Pembroke Pines, FL compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pembroke Pines, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $2,146 in Pembroke Pines, FL.
How do commuting costs compare in Pembroke Pines, FL and in Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 42% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Pembroke Pines, FL and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,026 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Pembroke Pines, FL at $3,533. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke Pines, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Pembroke Pines, FL or Playa del Carmen?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Pembroke Pines, FL and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pembroke Pines, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Pembroke Pines, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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