Cost of Living Comparison Between Pikeville, TN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Pikeville, TN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,650 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,961 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,273 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Pikeville, TN costs about 105% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Pikeville, TN sits 93% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$11.71 MX$198
73.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$46.59 MX$786
63.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.55 $11.55
$11.65 MX$197
-0.86%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$4.09 MX$69.1
27.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.37 MX$23.20
88.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.83 MX$14.07
144.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$3.35 MX$56.6
77.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50 $6.50
$6.91 MX$117
-5.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.73 MX$29.15
-40.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.26 MX$38.15
22.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$1.77 MX$29.86
305.65%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.73 MX$46.12
56.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 $9.40
$9.18 MX$155
2.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.19 $14.19
$8.92 MX$151
59.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.74 $25.74
$12.60 MX$213
104.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.02 MX$51.0
11.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.57 MX$26.51
78.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.38 $8.38
$2.13 MX$35.88
293.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$2.26 MX$38.22
232.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.00 MX$33.82
45.50%
Onion (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$2.06 MX$34.85
175.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.18 MX$19.91
91.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.20 MX$20.32
61.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$4.63 MX$78.2
112.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$10.69 MX$180
42.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.62 MX$27.33
22.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.88 MX$48.63
17.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.57 MX$9.68
247.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.7 $50.7
$29.83 MX$503
69.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$5.45 MX$91.9
-44.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$3.70 MX$62.5
-54.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.51 $30.51
$5.98 MX$101
410.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.55 MX$26.22
-40.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K $36.3K
$22.3K MX$376.8K
62.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$25.9K MX$438.0K
-2.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 $199
$89.1 MX$1,504
123.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.2 $57.2
$25.04 MX$423
128.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$31.50 MX$532
117.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.36 $41.36
$67.8 MX$1,144
-38.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.78 $29.78
$28.92 MX$488
2.97%
Cinema Ticket
$13.92 $13.92
$5.05 MX$85.2
175.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$225 MX$3,797
619.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.1K $20.1K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
375.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$47.44 MX$801
10.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.90 $41.90
$44.98 MX$759
-6.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 $87.8
$82.0 MX$1,384
7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$92.1 MX$1,555
26.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 $1,608
$1,069 MX$18.0K
50.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$405 MX$6,842
224.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,507 $2,507
$1,935 MX$32.7K
29.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 $2,179
$1,301 MX$22.0K
67.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 $2,363
$3,995 MX$67.4K
-40.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,507 $2,507
$6,626 MX$111.8K
-62.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pikeville, TN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%

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

Last update for Pikeville, TN: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Pikeville, TN versus $1,069 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Pikeville, TN versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $277 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Pikeville, TN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pikeville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Pikeville, TN costs about 105% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pikeville, TN and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,975 per month in Pikeville, TN and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pikeville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Pikeville, TN or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 68% more in Pikeville, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Pikeville, TN and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Pikeville, TN and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Pikeville, TN or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Pikeville, TN at $2,650. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pikeville, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pikeville, TN or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,293 versus $2,650 in Pikeville, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pikeville, TN compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Pikeville, TN or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pikeville, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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