Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chevy Chase, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $3,643 in Chevy Chase, MD, rent and utilities included – about $29,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Chevy Chase, MD, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Chevy Chase, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$3,643
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Chevy Chase, MD

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 Chevy Chase, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,643 in Chevy Chase, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Chevy Chase, MD $3,643

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,508 in Chevy Chase, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Chevy Chase, MD $4,508

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,374 in Chevy Chase, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Chevy Chase, MD $5,374

Playa del Carmen is about 67% cheaper than Chevy Chase, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Chevy Chase, MD is 169% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$24.12 $24.12
-55.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$98.1 $98.1
-55.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$10.86 $10.86
8.56%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$5.80 $5.80
-34.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$2.97 $2.97
-56.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$2.43 $2.43
-65.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$7.98 $7.98
-60.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$8.84 $8.84
-44.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.22 $1.22
15.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$4.35 $4.35
-49.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$5.39 $5.39
-72.73%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.47
$5.01 $5.01
-50.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$21.57 $21.57
-66.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$16.05 $16.05
-50.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$22.34 $22.34
-42.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$5.70 $5.70
-49.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.91 $1.91
-27.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.36
$4.54 $4.54
-45.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.78
$5.75 $5.75
-64.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.69
$3.33 $3.33
-39.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$3.90 $3.90
-51.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$2.35 $2.35
-51.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.06
$2.55 $2.55
-51.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$9.88 $9.88
-56.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$16.98 $16.98
-42.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$2.84 $2.84
-44.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$2.88 $2.88
-4.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$2.24 $2.24
-77.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$59.0 $59.0
-53.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$4.44 $4.44
7.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$1.58 $1.58
105.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$33.86 $33.86
-84.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.04 $1.04
47.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$29.4K $29.4K
-27.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$25.5K $25.5K
-8.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$165 $165
-49.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$52.1 $52.1
-55.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$60.9 $60.9
-54.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$45.69 $45.69
23.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$16.77 $16.77
-70.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$1,869 $1,869
-88.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.4K
$19.7K $19.7K
-73.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$55.4 $55.4
-21.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$62.0 $62.0
-31.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$103 $103
-29.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$160 $160
-44.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$2,561 $2,561
-61.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$2,152 $2,152
-82.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$4,162 $4,162
-59.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$1,921 $1,921
-43.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$2,836 $2,836
37.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$2,342 $2,342
162.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chevy Chase, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.86
66.91%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chevy Chase, MD: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Chevy Chase, MD
$2.2K 463% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Chevy Chase, MD
$508 97.3% $250
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Chevy Chase, MD
$374 86.9% $174
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Chevy Chase, MD
$278 107% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Chevy Chase, MD
$171 53.9% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Chevy Chase, MD
$79 19.3% $13
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Chevy Chase, MD
$80 59.2% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,561 in Chevy Chase, MD. 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 $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $98 in Chevy Chase, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $508 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Chevy Chase, MD
🕒 Local time
18:50 6:50 PM
18:50 6:50 PM
Same time as Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
3,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.95 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Chevy Chase, MD 2,250 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Chevy Chase, MD

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 Chevy Chase, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Chevy Chase, MD?
Chevy Chase, MD costs about 203% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Chevy Chase, MD?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,464 in Chevy Chase, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Chevy Chase, MD?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $995 there versus $2,561 in Chevy Chase, MD.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Chevy Chase, MD?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $98 in Chevy Chase, MD. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Chevy Chase, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $3,643 in Chevy Chase, MD. That makes Playa del Carmen about 67% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Chevy Chase, MD?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Chevy Chase, MD at $3,643. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chevy Chase, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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 more affordable for expats?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 67% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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