Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Crestview, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Crestview, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,281 in Crestview, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,315 in Crestview, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,349 in Crestview, FL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 45% less than in Crestview, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Crestview, FL is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$22.82 $22.82
-49.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$81.4 $81.4
-42.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$8.87 $8.87
33.93%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$4.91 $4.91
-18.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.61 $2.61
-45.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$2.08 $2.08
-60.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$5.08 $5.08
-37.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$5.91 $5.91
14.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.03 $1.03
63.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$3.18 $3.18
-30.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$1.96 $1.96
-12.76%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$1.96 $1.96
39.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$7.54 $7.54
27.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$10.10 $10.10
-10.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$13.97 $13.97
-8.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$3.93 $3.93
-26.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.07 $1.07
40.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$3.22 $3.22
-33.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$4.48 $4.48
-49.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$3.71 $3.71
-46.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$3.71 $3.71
-46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$1.68 $1.68
-26.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$1.94 $1.94
-38.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$7.60 $7.60
-40.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$14.66 $14.66
-29.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.73 $1.73
-6.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$1.78 $1.78
61.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$2.43 $2.43
121.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$1.48 $1.48
152.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$27.90 $27.90
-79.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$0.90 $0.90
71.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$37.2K $37.2K
-39.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$25.8K $25.8K
0.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$171 $171
-46.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$29.96 $29.96
-15.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$64.2 $64.2
-51.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$39.29 $39.29
71.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$14.21 $14.21
-65.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$984 $984
-77.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$14.0K $14.0K
-69.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$60.2 $60.2
-21.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$34.85 $34.85
27.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$97.8 $97.8
-18.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$107 $107
-13.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$1,260 $1,260
-15.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$1,130 $1,130
-65.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$2,099 $2,099
2.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$1,820 $1,820
-30.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$4,854 $4,854
-17.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$4,761 $4,761
36.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Crestview, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$3,243 $3,243
-76.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.1
87.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Crestview, FL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $1,260 in Crestview, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Crestview, FL pays 328% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $81.0 in Crestview, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $324 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 Crestview, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Crestview, FL?
Playa del Carmen and Crestview, FL differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $2,281 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 328% lower in Crestview, FL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Crestview, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,260 in Crestview, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Crestview, FL?
Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $984 in Crestview, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $81.0 in Crestview, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,281 in Crestview, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Crestview, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Crestview, FL?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Crestview, FL?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Crestview, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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