๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,616 in Apopka, FL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,853 in Apopka, FL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,091 in Apopka, FL.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 52% less than in Apopka, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Apopka, FL is 95% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$19.85$19.85
-41.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$75.6$75.6
-44.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.11$10.11
2.87%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$5.15$5.15
-29.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.98$2.98
-50.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.28$2.28
-60.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.91$5.91
-48.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$8.08$8.08
-44.68%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.11$1.11
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$3.89$3.89
-52.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.72$2.72
-40.81%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.51$4.51
-43.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$11.53$11.53
-26.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$8.57$8.57
-0.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$14.26$14.26
-22.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$4.68$4.68
-41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.99$1.99
-24.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$3.54$3.54
-44.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.41$3.41
-37.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.66$2.66
-30.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.23$2.23
-2.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.22$2.22
-51.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.65$1.65
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$8.31$8.31
-49.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.15$15.15
-32.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.08$2.08
-19.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.66$2.66
-6.39%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.04$2.04
-73.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$59.4$59.4
-55.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.97$2.97
4.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.49$1.49
65.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$35.54$35.54
-90.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.90$0.90
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$23.6K$23.6K
28.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$24.0K$24.0K
-2.33%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$190$190
-55.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$68.3$68.3
-67.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$77.7$77.7
-61.86%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$43.23$43.23
21.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$14.56$14.56
-66.00%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$904$904
-78.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$9,890$9,890
-46.20%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$63.7$63.7
-43.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$38.24$38.24
4.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$92.9$92.9
-15.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$112$112
-22.45%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,574$1,574
-37.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,333$1,333
-64.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,620$2,620
-39.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,184$2,184
-44.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Apopka, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$9,383$9,383
-92.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.55
74.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Apopka, FL: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,574 in Apopka, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐApopka, FL pays 1214% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $76 in Apopka, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $353 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 Apopka, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apopka, FL cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Apopka, FL?
On paper, Apopka, FL earns 1214% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Apopka, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,574 in Apopka, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Apopka, FL?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $76.0 in Apopka, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Apopka, FL?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,616 in Apopka, FL โ a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Apopka, FL?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,616 in Apopka, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Apopka, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Apopka, FL more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Apopka, FL, 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 โ expenses run 107% less than in Apopka, FL. 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