Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Cedar Rapids, IA

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,032 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

58

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
Learn more

Playa del Carmen Living Index
98

Cost of Living Index in Cedar Rapids, IA
Learn more

Cedar Rapids, IA Living Index

Jump to prices

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,204

/mo nomad

Cedar Rapids, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,032

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Cedar Rapids, IA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Cedar Rapids, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,032 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen $1,204
Cedar Rapids, IA $2,032

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,053 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen $2,082
Cedar Rapids, IA $3,053

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,074 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen $2,959
Cedar Rapids, IA $4,074

Playa del Carmen is about 41% cheaper than Cedar Rapids, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Cedar Rapids, IA is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.92 MX$203

$14.97 $14.97

-27.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.37 MX$808

$70.5 $70.5

-38.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 MX$219

$10.80 $10.80

9.07%

Cappuccino

$3.81 MX$71.0

$5.73 $5.73

-33.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MX$23.89

$2.82 $2.82

-54.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 MX$14.58

$1.85 $1.85

-57.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.17 MX$59.0

$4.57 $4.57

-30.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 MX$91.9

$5.83 $5.83

-15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MX$26.20

$0.73 $0.73

93.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$41.30

$2.45 $2.45

-9.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 MX$26.40

$4.65 $4.65

-69.46%

Eggs

$2.52 MX$47.00

$2.44 $2.44

3.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 MX$135

$14.35 $14.35

-49.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 MX$143

$10.92 $10.92

-29.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 MX$236

$16.61 $16.61

-23.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MX$51.9

$5.09 $5.09

-45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MX$25.49

$1.10 $1.10

24.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MX$47.52

$5.29 $5.29

-51.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$39.55

$4.58 $4.58

-53.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.11

$2.63 $2.63

-26.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 MX$35.13

$2.32 $2.32

-18.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MX$21.36

$2.04 $2.04

-43.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 MX$21.96

$2.22 $2.22

-46.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MX$80.0

$9.90 $9.90

-56.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 MX$185

$10.90 $10.90

-8.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$29.50

$2.24 $2.24

-29.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 MX$49.76

$3.27 $3.27

-18.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$10.31

$1.02 $1.02

-46.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.62 MX$496

$29.96 $29.96

-11.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 MX$92.6

$3.56 $3.56

39.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 MX$62.1

$1.84 $1.84

80.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.36 MX$99.8

$45.55 $45.55

-88.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MX$26.90

$0.84 $0.84

71.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K MX$385.0K

$33.3K $33.3K

-37.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$437.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-12.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.8 MX$1,580

$204 $204

-58.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.41 MX$436

$54.7 $54.7

-57.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.66 MX$534

$69.9 $69.9

-58.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 MX$1,063

$70.8 $70.8

-19.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.91 MX$539

$19.31 $19.31

49.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.14 MX$95.7

$13.21 $13.21

-61.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$207 MX$3,848

$871 $871

-76.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,927 MX$73.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.35 MX$808

$61.8 $61.8

-29.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.44 MX$772

$63.4 $63.4

-34.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MX$1,382

$128 $128

-42.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,663

$152 $152

-41.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$980 MX$18.2K

$1,125 $1,125

-12.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 MX$7,095

$732 $732

-47.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 MX$31.8K

$1,602 $1,602

6.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 MX$20.0K

$1,228 $1,228

-12.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,943 MX$73.5K

$1,774 $1,774

122.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,158 MX$114.7K

$1,492 $1,492

312.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$735 MX$13.7K

$3,701 $3,701

-80.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.63

72.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Playa del Carmen

$381 31.6%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$732 36% 92.3% $351

Groceries & Markets

Playa del Carmen

$255 21.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$371 18.2% 45.5% $116

Eating Out

Playa del Carmen

$202 16.8%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$274 13.5% 35.5% $72

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.4%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$329 16.2% 140% $192

Clothing & Footwear

Playa del Carmen

$112 9.3%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$182 9% 63.2% $71

Sport & Entertainment

Playa del Carmen

$67 5.6%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$97 4.8% 44.4% $30

Getting Around

Playa del Carmen

$50 4.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$47 2.3% 7.3% $3.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,125 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $70 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $371 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🇺🇸 Cedar Rapids, IA

🕒 Local time

21:51 9:51 PM

Same time as Playa del Carmen

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

149,923

137,710

💱 Currency

Mexican Peso MXN $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MXN = 5.37 USD

100 MXN = 4.82 EUR

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

USD to MXN in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Playa del Carmen Cedar Rapids, IA 2,410 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Playa del Carmen
Cedar Rapids, IA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cedar Rapids, IA is pricier by about 69%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,048 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,125 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Cedar Rapids, IA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen and $70 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Cedar Rapids, IA at $2,032. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cedar Rapids, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cedar Rapids, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.