🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,607 in Astoria, OR.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,791 in Astoria, OR.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,976 in Astoria, OR.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Astoria, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Astoria, OR is 95% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$17.84$17.84
-33.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$79.7$79.7
-46.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$7.85$7.85
34.90%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.1
$4.44$4.44
-18.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.56
$2.02$2.02
-27.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.42
$1.02$1.02
-7.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$4.79$4.79
-35.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$4.06$4.06
9.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.81
$1.11$1.11
28.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.80
$3.84$3.84
-51.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.36
$3.76$3.76
-56.65%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.02
$4.87$4.87
-45.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$15.34$15.34
-46.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$12.94$12.94
-35.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$16.29$16.29
-31.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.16
$4.28$4.28
-38.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.13
$1.45$1.45
3.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.61
$3.79$3.79
-47.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.15
$3.84$3.84
-45.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.13
$2.10$2.10
-14.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.89
$2.16$2.16
0.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.74
$1.91$1.91
-43.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.05
$1.70$1.70
-38.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$10.42$10.42
-61.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$14.07$14.07
-27.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.06
$1.67$1.67
3.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.48
$3.01$3.01
-16.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.03
$1.94$1.94
-73.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$470
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$3.53$3.53
-11.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.82
$1.59$1.59
50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$39.41$39.41
-92.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.17
$1.03$1.03
23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.6K
$27.5K$27.5K
12.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.9K
$24.9K$24.9K
-6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$280$280
-70.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$56.4$56.4
-60.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$75.7$75.7
-60.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$42.62$42.62
21.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.6
$12.99$12.99
-61.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,444
$1,296$1,296
-84.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.8K
$23.9K$23.9K
-77.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$633
$45.94$45.94
-20.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$53.0$53.0
-24.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,391
$85.2$85.2
-6.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$80.1$80.1
10.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$1,583$1,583
-39.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,091
$1,334$1,334
-65.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$2,231$2,231
-28.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$2,227$2,227
-45.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$2,946$2,946
33.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.3K
$2,522$2,522
155.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Astoria, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$6,061$6,061
-88.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.55
74.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Astoria, OR: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,583 in Astoria, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Astoria, OR pays 741% 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: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $80 in Astoria, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $389 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 Astoria, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Astoria, OR?
Playa del Carmen and Astoria, OR differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $2,607 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Astoria, OR earns 741% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Astoria, OR?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,583 in Astoria, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Astoria, OR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Astoria, OR?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,607 in Astoria, OR – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,607 in Astoria, OR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Astoria, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Astoria, 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.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Astoria, OR?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Astoria, 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