🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,571 in Brownsburg, IN.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,722 in Brownsburg, IN.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,873 in Brownsburg, IN.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in Brownsburg, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Brownsburg, IN is 93% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$19.36$19.36
-39.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$76.3$76.3
-45.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$11.10$11.10
-6.22%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$5.13$5.13
-29.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$2.49$2.49
-41.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$2.02$2.02
-51.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$6.02$6.02
-51.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$7.03$7.03
-34.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$1.04$1.04
37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$3.42$3.42
-44.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$4.28$4.28
-63.32%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$4.25$4.25
-37.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$12.35$12.35
-31.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$11.57$11.57
-25.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$15.69$15.69
-29.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$4.84$4.84
-44.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$1.64$1.64
-7.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$4.20$4.20
-54.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$4.69$4.69
-53.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$2.91$2.91
-35.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$2.88$2.88
-22.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$2.03$2.03
-46.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$2.18$2.18
-50.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$9.34$9.34
-55.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$11.86$11.86
-13.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.79$1.79
-6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$3.33$3.33
-24.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$1.97$1.97
-72.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$3.60$3.60
-11.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$1.58$1.58
55.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$29.34$29.34
-89.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$0.84$0.84
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$29.4K$29.4K
2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$25.2K$25.2K
-7.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$186$186
-56.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$53.0$53.0
-57.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$68.5$68.5
-56.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$42.71$42.71
20.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$13.33$13.33
-61.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$1,296$1,296
-84.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$23.7K$23.7K
-77.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$51.8$51.8
-31.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$40.20$40.20
0.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$87.4$87.4
-10.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$112$112
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$1,585$1,585
-40.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$1,347$1,347
-64.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$2,614$2,614
-38.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$2,228$2,228
-45.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$2,479$2,479
61.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$2,186$2,186
196.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$7,981$7,981
-91.57%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Brownsburg, IN: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $1,585 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 1086% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $76.0 in Brownsburg, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $383 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 Brownsburg, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brownsburg, IN cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Brownsburg, IN?
On paper, Brownsburg, IN earns 1086% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Brownsburg, IN?
Rent for a central apartment: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,585 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Brownsburg, IN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Brownsburg, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Brownsburg, IN?
All in, you'll spend $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,571 in Brownsburg, IN – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Brownsburg, IN?
At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,571 in Brownsburg, IN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Brownsburg, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Brownsburg, IN more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brownsburg, IN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Brownsburg, IN?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Brownsburg, IN 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Brownsburg, IN. 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