Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ada, OK Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ada, OK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Ada, OK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,585 in Ada, OK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,438 in Ada, OK.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in Ada, OK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Ada, OK is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$18.77 $18.77
-37.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$49.84 $49.84
-6.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$11.78 $11.78
-1.10%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$3.96 $3.96
3.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$2.34 $2.34
-41.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$2.03 $2.03
-59.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$3.04 $3.04
10.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$4.41 $4.41
56.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$0.97 $0.97
78.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$3.26 $3.26
-30.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$3.41 $3.41
-48.09%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$4.69 $4.69
-41.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$6.50 $6.50
41.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$11.10 $11.10
-19.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$18.82 $18.82
-33.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$4.81 $4.81
-37.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$1.62 $1.62
-3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$3.47 $3.47
-38.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$4.25 $4.25
-46.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$1.35 $1.35
48.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$1.60 $1.60
28.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.66 $1.66
-28.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.97 $0.97
23.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$5.91 $5.91
-21.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$15.05 $15.05
-28.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$3.39 $3.39
-52.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$4.67 $4.67
-38.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$2.95 $2.95
84.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$1.79 $1.79
106.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$24.25 $24.25
-75.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$0.74 $0.74
109.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$35.8K $35.8K
-37.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$28.2K $28.2K
-8.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$199 $199
-55.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$66.1 $66.1
-62.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$71.0 $71.0
-55.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
$34.80 $34.80
94.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$11.53 $11.53
-56.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$2,100 $2,100
-89.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$24.7K $24.7K
-82.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$45.05 $45.05
5.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$48.99 $48.99
-8.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$92.9 $92.9
-11.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$104 $104
-11.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$658 $658
62.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$544 $544
-25.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$1,019 $1,019
89.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$974 $974
33.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$1,491 $1,491
167.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$1,507 $1,507
339.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ada, OK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.34
80.60%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ada, OK: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $658 in Ada, OK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $50.0 in Ada, OK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $357 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
Playa del Carmen vs Ada, OK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Ada, OK?
Playa del Carmen and Ada, OK differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,293 vs $1,732 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Ada, OK?
You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $2,598 in Ada, OK to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ada, OK?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $658 in Ada, OK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Ada, OK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Ada, OK?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Ada, OK – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Ada, OK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ada, OK. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Ada, OK?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Ada, OK?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Ada, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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