Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Auburn, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Auburn, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,065 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,460 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,855 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 57% cheaper than Auburn, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Auburn, CA is 124% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 MX$221

$25.30 $25.30

-48.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

$90.2 $90.2

-48.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 MX$213

$12.10 $12.10

4.05%

Cappuccino

$4.00 MX$67.9

$4.96 $4.96

-19.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MX$24.08

$2.66 $2.66

-46.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$13.73

$2.20 $2.20

-63.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MX$51.7

$5.04 $5.04

-39.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 MX$116

$6.73 $6.73

1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

$1.21 $1.21

41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

$4.43 $4.43

-49.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

$6.83 $6.83

-74.82%

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

$3.17 $3.17

-14.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

$21.98 $21.98

-57.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

$16.55 $16.55

-46.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

$15.45 $15.45

-17.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

$6.79 $6.79

-53.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

$1.75 $1.75

-11.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

$6.45 $6.45

-66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

$5.92 $5.92

-60.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

$5.12 $5.12

-60.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

$3.04 $3.04

-34.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

$2.04 $2.04

-39.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

$2.31 $2.31

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

$11.64 $11.64

-60.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

$11.87 $11.87

-11.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

$1.46 $1.46

8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

$1.94 $1.94

50.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

$3.40 $3.40

-83.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

$89.7 $89.7

-66.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

$3.11 $3.11

71.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

$2.46 $2.46

51.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

$39.52 $39.52

-85.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

$1.23 $1.23

26.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.4K MX$379.1K

$32.7K $32.7K

-31.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K MX$433.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

2.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.3 MX$1,513

$186 $186

-51.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.30 MX$395

$49.42 $49.42

-52.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

$68.3 $68.3

-53.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

$64.4 $64.4

6.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

$15.10 $15.10

-66.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$222 MX$3,765

$2,770 $2,770

-91.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

$6,093 $6,093

-29.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

$69.0 $69.0

-33.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

$47.56 $47.56

-6.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

$110 $110

-12.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

$147 $147

-36.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$1,823 $1,823

-41.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

$1,604 $1,604

-75.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

$2,774 $2,774

-28.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

$2,297 $2,297

-43.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

$3,228 $3,228

25.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

$2,688 $2,688

146.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

$4,022 $4,022

-81.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

6.1

90.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Auburn, CA: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,823 in Auburn, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 439% higher in Auburn, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $90.0 in Auburn, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $484 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Auburn, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, $3,065 in Auburn, CA – roughly 130% apart. Auburn, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,597 in Auburn, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,770 in Auburn, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 74% more in Auburn, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Auburn, CA at $3,065. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,330 in Playa del Carmen to $3,065 in Auburn, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.