🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,799 in Antioch, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,970 in Antioch, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,141 in Antioch, CA.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 55% less than in Antioch, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Antioch, CA is 109% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$19.89$19.89
-41.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$78.8$78.8
-46.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.33$10.33
0.68%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$5.69$5.69
-36.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.58$2.58
-43.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.11$2.11
-56.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$8.07$8.07
-62.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$7.90$7.90
-43.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.22$1.22
13.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$4.21$4.21
-56.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$5.46$5.46
-70.51%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.62$4.62
-44.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$15.87$15.87
-46.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$15.02$15.02
-43.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$19.09$19.09
-42.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$5.25$5.25
-48.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.06$2.06
-27.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$3.29$3.29
-40.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$6.85$6.85
-69.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.77$1.77
5.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$4.34$4.34
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.71$2.71
-60.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.96$1.96
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$7.98$7.98
-47.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.83$15.83
-35.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.06$2.06
-18.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.04$2.04
22.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.95$1.95
-72.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.96$3.96
-21.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.84$1.84
33.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$27.50$27.50
-88.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.08$1.08
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$27.8K$27.8K
8.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$26.3K$26.3K
-10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$324$324
-74.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$60.3$60.3
-63.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$75.7$75.7
-60.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$42.79$42.79
23.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$7.87$7.87
-37.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,713$1,713
-88.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$4,931$4,931
7.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$25.04$25.04
43.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$22.33$22.33
79.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$92.2$92.2
-14.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$79.8$79.8
8.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,600$1,600
-38.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,349$1,349
-65.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$3,362$3,362
-52.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,233$2,233
-45.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$2,739$2,739
47.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,719$2,719
141.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Antioch, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.5
107.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Antioch, CA: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,600 in Antioch, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $79 in Antioch, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $455 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 Antioch, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antioch, CA cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $4,198 in Antioch, CA 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Antioch, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,600 in Antioch, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,713 in Antioch, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Antioch, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $79.0 in Antioch, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Antioch, CA?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,799 in Antioch, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Antioch, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Antioch, CA more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Antioch, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Antioch, CA. 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