Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ashland, OR

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,602 in Ashland, OR, rent and utilities included – about $16,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Ashland, OR, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Ashland, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,602
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Ashland, OR

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 Ashland, OR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,602 in Ashland, OR.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Ashland, OR $2,602

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,780 in Ashland, OR.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Ashland, OR $3,780

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,958 in Ashland, OR.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Ashland, OR $4,958

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Ashland, OR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Ashland, OR is 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$14.97 $14.97
-27.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$69.3 $69.3
-37.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$9.87 $9.87
19.35%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$5.11 $5.11
-25.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$1.94 $1.94
-34.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$1.83 $1.83
-57.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$5.92 $5.92
-46.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$8.02 $8.02
-38.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$0.91 $0.91
54.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$3.16 $3.16
-29.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$3.81 $3.81
-62.73%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$1.77 $1.77
42.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$11.90 $11.90
-38.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$11.12 $11.12
-30.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$14.19 $14.19
-10.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$6.30 $6.30
-55.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$1.70 $1.70
-19.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$3.36 $3.36
-24.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$5.28 $5.28
-59.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$1.83 $1.83
6.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$1.69 $1.69
11.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$2.04 $2.04
-43.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$3.33 $3.33
-64.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$9.88 $9.88
-56.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$8.86 $8.86
12.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.70 $1.70
-7.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$2.41 $2.41
10.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$2.02 $2.02
-72.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$56.1 $56.1
-52.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$4.11 $4.11
20.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$2.55 $2.55
30.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$44.56 $44.56
-87.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.30 $1.30
10.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$28.3K $28.3K
-26.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$24.0K $24.0K
-2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$194 $194
-56.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$77.0 $77.0
-69.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$86.1 $86.1
-66.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$41.79 $41.79
36.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$14.16 $14.16
-63.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$1,134 $1,134
-81.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$19.8K $19.8K
-80.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$61.0 $61.0
-28.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$71.4 $71.4
-41.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$89.5 $89.5
-17.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$120 $120
-25.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$1,578 $1,578
-37.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$1,302 $1,302
-70.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,470 $2,470
-30.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,149 $2,149
-49.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$2,688 $2,688
46.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$2,374 $2,374
159.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ashland, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.78
68.88%

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 Ashland, OR: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Ashland, OR
$1.3K 242% $921
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Ashland, OR
$366 43.9% $112
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Ashland, OR
$271 34.2% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Ashland, OR
$358 161% $221
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Ashland, OR
$154 37.8% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Ashland, OR
$70 4.1% $2.8
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Ashland, OR
$81 60.6% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,578 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $69 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $366 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Ashland, OR
🕒 Local time
15:38 3:38 PM
13:38 1:38 PM
2 h behind Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
21,684
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Ashland, OR 4,100 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Ashland, OR

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 Ashland, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ashland, OR?
Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,806 in Playa del Carmen and $3,903 in Ashland, OR 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 Ashland, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,578 in Ashland, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Ashland, OR?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43 versus $69 in Ashland, OR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Ashland, OR?
All in, you’ll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,602 in Ashland, OR – Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ashland, OR?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,602 in Ashland, OR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ashland, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Ashland, OR?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Ashland, OR. 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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