🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,341 in Brownsburg, IN.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,355 in Brownsburg, IN.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,368 in Brownsburg, IN.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 43% less than in Brownsburg, IN, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Brownsburg, IN is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$19.88$19.88
-34.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$76.4$76.4
-39.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$11.68$11.68
7.79%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$5.19$5.19
-22.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$2.69$2.69
-47.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$2.03$2.03
-60.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$6.02$6.02
-49.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$7.04$7.04
-3.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$0.81$0.81
111.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$1.76$1.76
26.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$4.47$4.47
-61.52%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.97$2.97
-8.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$12.27$12.27
-23.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$9.03$9.03
-1.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$16.83$16.83
-24.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$5.07$5.07
-38.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.85$1.85
-16.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$4.45$4.45
-51.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$4.65$4.65
-49.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$2.87$2.87
-29.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$2.93$2.93
-32.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$2.13$2.13
-41.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$1.62$1.62
-26.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$10.02$10.02
-53.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$12.01$12.01
-12.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.95$1.95
-18.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$3.36$3.36
-13.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$1.98$1.98
-71.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$2.92$2.92
82.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$1.70$1.70
118.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$28.40$28.40
-79.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$0.82$0.82
89.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$36.1K$36.1K
-37.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$25.9K$25.9K
-1.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$227$227
-60.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$80.8$80.8
-71.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$85.9$85.9
-63.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$41.54$41.54
65.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$13.68$13.68
-63.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$1,452$1,452
-84.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$23.2K$23.2K
-81.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$45.54$45.54
1.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$40.55$40.55
9.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$78.8$78.8
21.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$75.1$75.1
23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$1,292$1,292
-17.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$1,064$1,064
-63.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$1,741$1,741
14.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$1,624$1,624
-19.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$2,696$2,696
49.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$2,385$2,385
177.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brownsburg, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$7,944$7,944
-90.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
6.12
89.54%
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 Brownsburg, IN: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $1,292 in Brownsburg, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brownsburg, IN pays 964% 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: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $76.0 in Brownsburg, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $348 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 76% 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, salaries run 964% lower in Brownsburg, IN. 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,292 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 in Brownsburg, IN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% 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 and in Brownsburg, IN?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,341 in Brownsburg, IN – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Brownsburg, IN?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,341 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 76% 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