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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,544 in Camarillo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,189 in Camarillo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,834 in Camarillo, CA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 63% less than in Camarillo, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Camarillo, CA is 164% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$25.15 $25.15
-53.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$66.1 $66.1
-37.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.81 $9.81
8.46%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$5.68 $5.68
-38.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$2.72 $2.72
-44.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$2.07 $2.07
-53.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$6.79 $6.79
-56.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$8.59 $8.59
-48.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.25 $1.25
10.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$5.67 $5.67
-66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$4.67 $4.67
-64.88%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$4.44 $4.44
-43.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$12.59 $12.59
-33.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$11.61 $11.61
-28.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$14.52 $14.52
-26.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$6.23 $6.23
-58.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.93 $1.93
-24.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$3.81 $3.81
-50.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$5.31 $5.31
-60.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$3.20 $3.20
-44.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$3.09 $3.09
-29.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$2.06 $2.06
-49.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$2.09 $2.09
-48.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$9.62 $9.62
-57.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$15.06 $15.06
-31.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.75 $1.75
-2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$4.56 $4.56
-43.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$2.04 $2.04
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$4.07 $4.07
-19.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$2.81 $2.81
-11.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$32.18 $32.18
-89.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.29 $1.29
1.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$28.6K $28.6K
5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$24.0K $24.0K
-2.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$204 $204
-59.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$54.9 $54.9
-59.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$73.7 $73.7
-60.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$40.10 $40.10
28.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$13.95 $13.95
-63.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$1,823 $1,823
-88.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$40.6K $40.6K
-87.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$67.7 $67.7
-45.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$19.92 $19.92
99.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$77.5 $77.5
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$156 $156
-44.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$2,239 $2,239
-56.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$2,212 $2,212
-78.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$4,184 $4,184
-60.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$3,729 $3,729
-67.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$6,478 $6,478
-39.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Camarillo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$5,642 $5,642
-88.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.69
70.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Camarillo, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $2,239 in Camarillo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Camarillo, CA pays 750% 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 $66.0 in Camarillo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $427 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 Camarillo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Camarillo, CA 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 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Camarillo, CA?
On paper, Camarillo, CA earns 750% 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 Camarillo, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,239 in Camarillo, CA. 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 Camarillo, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Camarillo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Camarillo, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,544 in Camarillo, CA – a 173% 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 Camarillo, CA?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,544 in Camarillo, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Camarillo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Camarillo, CA more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Camarillo, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Camarillo, CA?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Camarillo, CA 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 173% less than in Camarillo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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