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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,626 in Chico, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,963 in Chico, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,299 in Chico, CA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 52% less than in Chico, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Chico, CA is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$25.21 $25.21

-52.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$60.9 $60.9

-31.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$13.20 $13.20

-18.56%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$5.89 $5.89

-40.58%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$2.49 $2.49

-41.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$2.17 $2.17

-59.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$7.16 $7.16

-58.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$8.65 $8.65

-47.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.34 $1.34

6.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$3.70 $3.70

-50.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$3.50 $3.50

-55.14%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$5.61 $5.61

-55.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$13.33 $13.33

-37.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$10.60 $10.60

-20.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$16.75 $16.75

-36.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$5.53 $5.53

-52.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$2.23 $2.23

-35.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$3.80 $3.80

-48.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$5.58 $5.58

-62.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$4.61 $4.61

-59.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$3.50 $3.50

-38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$2.20 $2.20

-53.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$2.29 $2.29

-53.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$7.79 $7.79

-47.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$11.84 $11.84

-14.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.69 $1.69

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$5.43 $5.43

-53.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$2.91 $2.91

-82.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$34.53 $34.53

-24.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$3.54 $3.54

-8.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$2.04 $2.04

18.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$40.34 $40.34

-91.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.27 $1.27

3.94%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$23.7K $23.7K

25.37%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

-3.05%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$192 $192

-57.37%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$53.2 $53.2

-56.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$70.5 $70.5

-57.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$62.1 $62.1

-16.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$13.74 $13.74

-63.76%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$1,834 $1,834

-89.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$37.3K $37.3K

-85.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$58.5 $58.5

-39.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$31.30 $31.30

28.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$78.7 $78.7

0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$98.1 $98.1

-9.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$1,459 $1,459

-35.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$1,192 $1,192

-60.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$2,755 $2,755

-40.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$2,294 $2,294

-47.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$3,245 $3,245

24.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$2,971 $2,971

117.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$3,857 $3,857

-83.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.55

74.35%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chico, CA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $1,459 in Chico, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chico, CA pays 490% 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 $61.0 in Chico, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $414 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 Chico, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 490% lower in Chico, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,459 in Chico, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $61.0 in Chico, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,626 in Chico, CA – a 109% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,626 in Chico, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Chico, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chico, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Chico, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.