Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Daytona Beach, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Daytona Beach, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,664 in Daytona Beach, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,823 in Daytona Beach, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,983 in Daytona Beach, FL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Daytona Beach, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Daytona Beach, FL is 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$21.26 $21.26
-44.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$788
$81.2 $81.2
-42.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$11.94 $11.94
-2.43%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$5.80 $5.80
-29.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$3.12 $3.12
-56.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$2.48 $2.48
-66.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$7.17 $7.17
-53.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$6.32 $6.32
9.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.20
$1.00 $1.00
73.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.21
$2.90 $2.90
-22.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.91
$2.47 $2.47
-28.34%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.19
$4.77 $4.77
-42.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$7.22 $7.22
27.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$12.51 $12.51
-28.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$12.63 $12.63
-0.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$5.98 $5.98
-49.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.55
$1.36 $1.36
15.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.93
$4.05 $4.05
-47.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.28
$3.19 $3.19
-29.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.88
$2.44 $2.44
-18.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.90
$2.41 $2.41
-14.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.42 $1.42
-16.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$1.77 $1.77
-32.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.4
$8.29 $8.29
-44.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$11.10 $11.10
-3.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$2.05 $2.05
-20.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.70
$2.68 $2.68
7.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$1.46 $1.46
-60.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$35.56 $35.56
-16.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$24.89 $24.89
-75.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.26
$0.88 $0.88
76.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.4K
$24.9K $24.9K
-10.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.7K
$27.6K $27.6K
-5.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,507
$140 $140
-36.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$64.8 $64.8
-61.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$77.5 $77.5
-59.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,146
$29.40 $29.40
130.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$24.73 $24.73
16.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.4
$13.45 $13.45
-62.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,803
$625 $625
-64.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$54.3 $54.3
-12.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$52.1 $52.1
-13.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$88.0 $88.0
-6.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,557
$116 $116
-20.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$1,582 $1,582
-32.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,852
$1,450 $1,450
-72.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$2,455 $2,455
-21.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$2,241 $2,241
-41.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$2,590 $2,590
54.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$2,744 $2,744
141.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Daytona Beach, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$3,240 $3,240
-76.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.38
79.47%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Daytona Beach, FL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $1,582 in Daytona Beach, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Daytona Beach, FL pays 333% 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 Daytona Beach, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $337 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 Daytona Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Daytona Beach, FL?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 106% lower than in Daytona Beach, FL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Daytona Beach, FL?
On paper, salaries run 333% lower in Daytona Beach, FL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Daytona Beach, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,582 in Daytona Beach, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Daytona Beach, FL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Daytona Beach, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Daytona Beach, FL?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $81.0 in Daytona Beach, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Daytona Beach, FL?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,664 in Daytona Beach, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Daytona Beach, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Daytona Beach, FL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,293 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Daytona Beach, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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