🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,578 in Clayton, NC, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,720 in Clayton, NC, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,862 in Clayton, NC, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 50% cheaper than Clayton, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Clayton, NC is 93% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$17.78$17.78
-32.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$75.6$75.6
-43.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$10.12$10.12
4.64%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$4.88$4.88
-25.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$2.29$2.29
-35.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$1.95$1.95
-51.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$5.47$5.47
-43.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$5.93$5.93
-24.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$0.99$0.99
44.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$3.91$3.91
-51.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$3.19$3.19
-48.90%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$4.50$4.50
-41.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$13.98$13.98
-41.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$11.44$11.44
-27.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$16.32$16.32
-31.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$5.64$5.64
-53.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$1.67$1.67
-10.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$5.80$5.80
-65.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$4.01$4.01
-48.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$3.51$3.51
-49.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$2.83$2.83
-22.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$1.72$1.72
-37.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$1.95$1.95
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$7.96$7.96
-50.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$15.02$15.02
-32.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$2.06$2.06
-16.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$2.98$2.98
-16.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$1.98$1.98
-73.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$2.44$2.44
28.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$1.75$1.75
37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$14.92$14.92
-79.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$0.86$0.86
47.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$30.5K$30.5K
1.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$25.2K$25.2K
-7.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$142$142
-42.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$54.5$54.5
-58.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$71.3$71.3
-58.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$42.87$42.87
20.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$13.89$13.89
-64.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$1,327$1,327
-85.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$24.4K$24.4K
-78.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$49.95$49.95
-27.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$36.14$36.14
10.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$101$101
-20.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$142$142
-37.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$1,615$1,615
-40.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$1,369$1,369
-66.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$2,632$2,632
-39.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$2,228$2,228
-45.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Clayton, NC
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Clayton, NC: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,615 in Clayton, NC. 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $76.0 in Clayton, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $402 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Clayton, NC: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Clayton, NC compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $2,578 in Clayton, NC – roughly 100% apart. Clayton, NC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Clayton, NC?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,867 in Clayton, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Clayton, NC?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Clayton, NC?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $2,578 in Clayton, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Clayton, NC?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,327 in Clayton, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Clayton, NC at $2,578. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Clayton, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Clayton, NC?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $2,578 in Clayton, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Clayton, NC?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Clayton, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado