🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,895 in Ashland, OH.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,520 in Ashland, OH.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 44% less than in Ashland, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Ashland, OH is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$8.39$8.39
39.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$38.42$38.42
9.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$8.28$8.28
25.60%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$3.63$3.63
-0.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$1.70$1.70
-13.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.27$1.27
-28.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.06$5.06
-40.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$4.93$4.93
-9.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.81$0.81
70.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.23$2.23
-17.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.83$2.83
-43.11%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$2.61$2.61
-1.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$11.44$11.44
-25.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$8.59$8.59
-1.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$13.50$13.50
-18.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.63$3.63
-24.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.14$1.14
31.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$3.28$3.28
-40.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.64$3.64
-41.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.67$1.67
11.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.03$2.03
6.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.13$2.13
-49.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.48$1.48
-29.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$9.89$9.89
-57.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$7.79$7.79
31.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.98$1.98
-15.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.55$2.55
-2.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.94$2.94
-81.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$197$197
-86.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.47$2.47
25.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.32$1.32
86.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$18.21$18.21
-82.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.82$0.82
53.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$28.0K$28.0K
7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$25.3K$25.3K
-7.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$162$162
-48.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$33.17$33.17
-33.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$65.1$65.1
-54.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$33.59$33.59
56.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$8.56$8.56
-42.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,480$1,480
-86.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$14.3K$14.3K
-62.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$44.02$44.02
-18.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.75$39.75
0.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$69.2$69.2
13.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$67.3$67.3
28.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$635$635
53.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,134$1,134
-58.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$875$875
82.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,243$1,243
-2.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,786$1,786
125.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$1,908$1,908
244.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$3,333$3,333
-78.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%
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 Ashland, OH: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashland, OH pays 367% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $38 in Ashland, OH. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $292, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ashland, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ashland, OH?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Ashland, OH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Ashland, OH?
On paper, Ashland, OH earns 367% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Ashland, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $635 in Ashland, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Ashland, OH?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $38.00 in Ashland, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Ashland, OH?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Ashland, OH?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,270 in Ashland, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ashland, OH?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Ashland, 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