Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,814 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,388 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Phoenix, AZ is roughly 121% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phoenix, AZ is 109% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.32 $20.32

$11.87 MX$207

71.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$42.90 MX$749

88.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$10.65 MX$186

11.08%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$3.45 MX$60.2

69.57%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.50 MX$26.27

76.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.95 MX$16.57

130.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.03 MX$52.9

98.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$4.61 MX$80.5

50.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.38 MX$24.03

-34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.85 MX$32.27

131.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$1.61 MX$28.14

222.36%

Eggs

$4.70 $4.70

$2.59 MX$45.30

81.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$8.26 MX$144

44.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$8.37 MX$146

40.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.66 MX$186

29.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.63 MX$45.93

66.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.49 MX$25.99

-0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.92 MX$33.53

110.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.09 MX$36.44

148.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.86 MX$32.44

74.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.26 MX$39.50

12.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.06 MX$18.56

84.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.09 MX$19.00

107.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.71 $11.71

$4.15 MX$72.5

182.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.39 MX$182

42.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.72 MX$30.12

27.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.61 MX$45.64

54.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$0.54 MX$9.46

374.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.8 $60.8

$26.94 MX$471

125.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.13 MX$54.6

20.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$2.51 MX$43.85

-46.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.88 $35.88

$3.15 MX$55.0

1039.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.27 MX$22.27

-25.20%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$30.4K MX$530.6K

2.94%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$23.6K MX$411.7K

13.70%

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

$252 $252

$83.0 MX$1,450

203.10%

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

$75.0 $75.0

$22.71 MX$397

230.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.8 $84.8

$29.46 MX$515

187.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.33 $34.33

$51.0 MX$891

-32.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 $14.55

$18.33 MX$320

-20.62%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 $12.10

$4.93 MX$86.0

145.44%

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

$1,130 $1,130

$197 MX$3,447

472.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K $16.6K

$5,280 MX$92.2K

213.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$36.90 MX$645

49.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.43 $41.43

$39.89 MX$697

3.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 $93.9

$80.0 MX$1,398

17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$89.5 MX$1,563

34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 $1,644

$956 MX$16.7K

71.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$477 MX$8,334

188.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,681 $2,681

$1,646 MX$28.8K

62.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,238 $2,238

$1,225 MX$21.4K

82.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,637 $4,637

$3,918 MX$68.4K

18.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,104 $3,104

$6,459 MX$112.8K

-51.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,252 $4,252

$667 MX$11.7K

537.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

11.42

-43.43%

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

Last update for Phoenix, AZ: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,644 in Phoenix, AZ and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phoenix, AZ pays 537% 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: $81.0 in Phoenix, AZ vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 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

Phoenix, AZ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 121% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Phoenix, AZ pays 537% 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: $1,644 in Phoenix, AZ versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,814 per month in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 126% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,814 in Phoenix, AZ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Phoenix, AZ. 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 Phoenix, AZ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.