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: $2,831 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,127 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,424 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Phoenix, AZ is roughly 125% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phoenix, AZ is 113% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.06 $20.06

$11.72 MX$203

71.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$41.89 MX$727

91.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 $11.88

$10.51 MX$182

13.04%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$3.59 MX$62.2

60.72%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.51 MX$26.16

74.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$0.92 MX$15.87

129.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.96 MX$51.3

106.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$4.41 MX$76.5

60.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.40 MX$24.21

-39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$1.88 MX$32.68

119.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.56 MX$27.03

218.59%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$2.61 MX$45.25

78.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$8.32 MX$144

40.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$8.35 MX$145

43.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 $13.53

$10.86 MX$188

24.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.71 MX$47.04

66.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.51 MX$26.11

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.87 MX$32.49

116.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$2.19 MX$37.98

127.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.86 MX$32.21

82.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.23 MX$38.68

15.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.07 MX$18.53

82.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.09 MX$18.84

113.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.60 $11.60

$4.19 MX$72.6

176.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.02 $14.02

$10.43 MX$181

34.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.66 MX$28.75

28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.61 MX$45.30

52.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.54 MX$9.39

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.4 $62.4

$26.16 MX$454

138.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.08 MX$53.4

28.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.40 MX$41.71

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.39 $35.39

$3.13 MX$54.2

1030.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.31 MX$22.74

-23.66%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$29.8K MX$517.0K

3.41%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$23.3K MX$404.5K

14.08%

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

$257 $257

$81.3 MX$1,410

216.49%

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

$74.9 $74.9

$22.56 MX$391

232.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.0 $83.0

$30.05 MX$521

176.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.38 $34.38

$52.9 MX$918

-35.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.39 $14.39

$18.39 MX$319

-21.75%

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 $11.90

$4.92 MX$85.3

141.87%

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

$1,142 $1,142

$201 MX$3,483

468.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K $16.6K

$5,175 MX$89.7K

220.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.0 $56.0

$35.92 MX$623

56.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.55 $41.55

$40.13 MX$696

3.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.5 $93.5

$79.7 MX$1,382

17.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$86.5 MX$1,500

35.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$978 MX$17.0K

69.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$470 MX$8,160

194.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,618 $2,618

$1,651 MX$28.6K

58.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 $2,298

$1,203 MX$20.9K

90.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,629 $4,629

$3,953 MX$68.6K

17.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,111 $3,111

$6,607 MX$114.6K

-52.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,452 $4,452

$677 MX$11.7K

557.97%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Phoenix, AZ and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phoenix, AZ pays 558% 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: $80.0 in Phoenix, AZ vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $252 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 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 558% higher in Phoenix, AZ, 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: $1,653 in Phoenix, AZ versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,831 per month in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 125% 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 138% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,831 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 125% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.