🙂A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,630 in Brookings, OR, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,844 in Brookings, OR, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,057 in Brookings, OR, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 52% cheaper than Brookings, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Brookings, OR is 96% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$18.96$18.96
-38.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$74.1$74.1
-43.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$9.76$9.76
6.56%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$6.33$6.33
-42.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$3.33$3.33
-55.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.04$2.04
-55.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$6.04$6.04
-49.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$7.12$7.12
-37.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.10$1.10
25.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$4.42$4.42
-58.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$4.43$4.43
-63.66%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$5.94$5.94
-56.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$12.16$12.16
-30.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$11.34$11.34
-25.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$15.38$15.38
-28.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$4.84$4.84
-43.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.63$1.63
-7.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$4.20$4.20
-53.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$4.82$4.82
-56.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.78$2.78
-33.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.90$2.90
-25.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.46$2.46
-56.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.10$2.10
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$9.53$9.53
-56.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.14$15.14
-32.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.83$1.83
-8.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.32$3.32
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.05$2.05
-73.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.54$3.54
-12.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.60$1.60
53.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$29.60$29.60
-89.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.03$1.03
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$29.5K$29.5K
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$26.0K$26.0K
-9.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$187$187
-55.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$52.9$52.9
-58.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$67.2$67.2
-55.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$43.41$43.41
21.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$13.51$13.51
-63.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,302$1,302
-84.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$23.1K$23.1K
-76.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$50.2$50.2
-28.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.57$39.57
1.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$85.8$85.8
-8.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$114$114
-24.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,632$1,632
-40.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,360$1,360
-65.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,543$2,543
-37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,259$2,259
-46.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$3,235$3,235
24.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$3,293$3,293
99.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brookings, OR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
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 Brookings, OR: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,632 in Brookings, OR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $74 in Brookings, OR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $406 – 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 Brookings, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brookings, OR cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Brookings, OR is pricier by about 109%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,946 in Brookings, OR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Brookings, OR?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,630 in Brookings, OR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,302 in Brookings, OR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Brookings, OR?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Brookings, OR at $2,630. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brookings, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Brookings, OR more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brookings, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared