Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Akron, OH

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,222 in Akron, OH, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Akron, OH, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Akron, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,222
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Akron, OH

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,222 in Akron, OH.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Akron, OH $2,222

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,373 in Akron, OH.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Akron, OH $3,373

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,525 in Akron, OH.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Akron, OH $4,525

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 46% less than in Akron, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Akron, OH is 63% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$17.07 $17.07
-36.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$815
$74.1 $74.1
-41.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$9.96 $9.96
18.27%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.6
$3.79 $3.79
0.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.10
$2.14 $2.14
-40.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.71
$1.59 $1.59
-50.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$5.06 $5.06
-37.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$4.86 $4.86
1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.43
$0.86 $0.86
63.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.66
$2.46 $2.46
-9.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.64
$7.28 $7.28
-80.49%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.41
$4.99 $4.99
-49.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$137
$15.59 $15.59
-53.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$145
$11.54 $11.54
-33.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$239
$19.23 $19.23
-34.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$7.07 $7.07
-60.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.71
$1.58 $1.58
-13.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.94
$7.70 $7.70
-66.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.90
$6.92 $6.92
-69.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.43
$3.81 $3.81
-49.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.44
$3.81 $3.81
-50.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.55
$2.49 $2.49
-53.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.16
$2.06 $2.06
-42.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.7
$10.13 $10.13
-57.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$14.37 $14.37
-30.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.76
$1.75 $1.75
-9.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.2
$5.09 $5.09
-47.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.40
$1.23 $1.23
-55.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$50.2 $50.2
-46.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.4
$5.01 $5.01
-0.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.6
$1.79 $1.79
86.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.14
$1.02 $1.02
41.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.4K
$27.8K $27.8K
-25.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$441.0K
$26.6K $26.6K
-11.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,594
$244 $244
-65.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$440
$41.85 $41.85
-44.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$539
$80.7 $80.7
-64.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,072
$43.89 $43.89
29.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$17.57 $17.57
64.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.6
$12.30 $12.30
-58.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,882
$1,048 $1,048
-80.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.8K
$12.5K $12.5K
-68.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$815
$52.5 $52.5
-17.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$779
$64.0 $64.0
-35.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,394
$104 $104
-28.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,677
$126 $126
-29.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$1,020 $1,020
-3.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,157
$843 $843
-54.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$1,545 $1,545
10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$1,518 $1,518
-29.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.1K
$1,483 $1,483
165.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.7K
$1,196 $1,196
415.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Akron, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$3,257 $3,257
-77.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.08
88.32%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Akron, OH: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Akron, OH
$843 121% $462
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Akron, OH
$456 79% $201
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Akron, OH
$262 29.4% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Akron, OH
$367 168% $230
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Akron, OH
$156 39.6% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Akron, OH
$69 1.8% $1.2
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Akron, OH
$69 36.8% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,020 in Akron, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akron, OH pays about 4.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $74 in Akron, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $456 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Akron, OH
🕒 Local time
04:21 4:21 AM
04:21 4:21 AM
Same time as Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
197,542
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Akron, OH 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Akron, OH

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
Playa del Carmen vs Akron, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Akron, OH?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,222 in Akron, OH, so Playa del Carmen is about 46% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 77% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Akron, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,020 in Akron, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Akron, OH?
All in, you’ll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,222 in Akron, OH – Playa del Carmen is about 46% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Akron, OH?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 47% less than in Akron, OH. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,222 in Akron, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Akron, OH. 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 Akron, OH?
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 Akron, OH?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Akron, OH. 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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