Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Andover, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Andover, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,827 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,133 in Andover, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,438 in Andover, MA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper than Andover, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Andover, MA is 112% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$202
$29.97 $29.97
-60.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$719
$91.6 $91.6
-54.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$179
$11.80 $11.80
-11.78%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.1
$6.37 $6.37
-43.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.06
$2.91 $2.91
-49.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.70
$2.41 $2.41
-59.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.3
$6.19 $6.19
-52.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$79.5
$8.10 $8.10
-42.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.59
$0.98 $0.98
45.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.70
$3.59 $3.59
-47.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.95
$7.81 $7.81
-79.90%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.34
$4.31 $4.31
-38.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$145
$16.73 $16.73
-49.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$148
$10.82 $10.82
-20.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$189
$16.65 $16.65
-33.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.51
$3.38 $3.38
-20.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$25.92
$1.73 $1.73
-12.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$32.93
$6.53 $6.53
-70.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.37
$4.74 $4.74
-54.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.25
$2.92 $2.92
-35.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.43
$5.49 $5.49
-59.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$3.14 $3.14
-65.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.47
$2.39 $2.39
-55.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$71.6
$12.29 $12.29
-66.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$177
$13.79 $13.79
-25.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.95
$1.87 $1.87
-10.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.59
$3.02 $3.02
-16.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.53
$1.97 $1.97
-72.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$452
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$2.02 $2.02
58.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.37
$1.38 $1.38
78.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.0
$28.91 $28.91
-88.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.72
$0.85 $0.85
55.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$518.8K
$29.6K $29.6K
1.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$402.5K
$36.7K $36.7K
-36.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,400
$208 $208
-60.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$386
$55.2 $55.2
-59.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$516
$83.3 $83.3
-64.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$887
$42.72 $42.72
20.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$88.9
$14.36 $14.36
-64.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,471
$1,291 $1,291
-84.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$91.4K
$23.7K $23.7K
-77.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$613
$50.6 $50.6
-29.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$695
$75.9 $75.9
-46.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,353
$125 $125
-36.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,495
$135 $135
-35.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.3K
$1,595 $1,595
-40.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,227
$1,344 $1,344
-64.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$27.9K
$2,608 $2,608
-37.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.0K
$2,260 $2,260
-45.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.0K
$2,861 $2,861
40.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$111.4K
$2,620 $2,620
147.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Andover, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.6K
$5,663 $5,663
-88.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.71
70.19%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Andover, MA: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,595 in Andover, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 742% higher in Andover, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $92.0 in Andover, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $429 – 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
Playa del Carmen vs Andover, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Andover, MA cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Andover, MA is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,240 in Andover, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Andover, MA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $92.0 in Andover, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Andover, MA?
Groceries cost about 69% more in Andover, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Andover, MA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Andover, MA at $2,827. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Andover, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Andover, MA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Andover, MA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Andover, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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