🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,166 in Baraboo, WI.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,952 in Baraboo, WI.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 47% less than in Baraboo, WI, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Baraboo, WI is 78% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$15.09$15.09
-22.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$40.38$40.38
3.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.46$11.46
-9.25%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.99$4.99
-27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$1.53$1.53
-3.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.47$1.47
-38.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.10$5.10
-40.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$3.48$3.48
28.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.82$0.82
68.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$3.11$3.11
-40.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$3.26$3.26
-50.61%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$2.95$2.95
-12.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$7.57$7.57
12.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$11.44$11.44
-25.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$11.19$11.19
-1.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$4.01$4.01
-31.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.26$1.26
19.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.96$2.96
-33.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.47$3.47
-38.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.22$1.22
52.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.49$2.49
-12.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.61$1.61
-33.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.17$2.17
-51.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$11.22$11.22
-62.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$8.46$8.46
21.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.74$1.74
-4.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.29$3.29
-24.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.99$1.99
-72.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.44$3.44
-9.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.56$1.56
57.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$29.67$29.67
-89.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.00$1.00
26.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$24.5K$24.5K
22.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$25.6K$25.6K
-8.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$174$174
-51.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$52.0$52.0
-57.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$51.0$51.0
-41.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$29.40$29.40
79.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$10.80$10.80
-54.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,324$1,324
-85.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$23.1K$23.1K
-76.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$45.84$45.84
-21.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.28$39.28
1.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$67.7$67.7
16.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$110$110
-21.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,296$1,296
-24.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,292$1,292
-63.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,784$1,784
-10.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,779$1,779
-31.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$2,174$2,174
85.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,177$2,177
202.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Baraboo, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.52
75.15%
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 Baraboo, WI: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $40 in Baraboo, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $308, 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 Baraboo, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Baraboo, WI?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Baraboo, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Baraboo, WI?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $3,568 in Baraboo, WI 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Baraboo, WI?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,296 in Baraboo, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Baraboo, WI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Baraboo, WI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Baraboo, WI?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI – a 89% 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 Baraboo, WI?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,379 in Baraboo, WI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Baraboo, WI. 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 Baraboo, WI?
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.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Baraboo, WI?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Baraboo, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Baraboo, WI. 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