Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Del Rio, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Del Rio, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,583 in Del Rio, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,681 in Del Rio, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,779 in Del Rio, TX.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Del Rio, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Del Rio, TX is 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$19.08 $19.08
-38.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$54.6 $54.6
-23.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$10.90 $10.90
-3.58%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$4.05 $4.05
-11.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$2.14 $2.14
-29.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$1.92 $1.92
-52.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$3.64 $3.64
-18.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$4.38 $4.38
0.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$0.97 $0.97
44.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$2.95 $2.95
-36.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$4.75 $4.75
-67.16%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$3.60 $3.60
-27.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$10.87 $10.87
-23.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$9.95 $9.95
-16.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$15.26 $15.26
-28.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$4.26 $4.26
-36.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$1.52 $1.52
-0.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$3.98 $3.98
-53.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$3.15 $3.15
-30.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$1.95 $1.95
-4.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$2.53 $2.53
-11.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$1.74 $1.74
-38.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$1.99 $1.99
-45.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$9.02 $9.02
-53.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$15.18 $15.18
-31.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$2.48 $2.48
-33.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$3.16 $3.16
-17.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.98 $1.98
-72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$3.60 $3.60
-14.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$1.82 $1.82
31.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$45.17 $45.17
-93.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$0.74 $0.74
77.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$28.5K $28.5K
4.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$26.9K $26.9K
-13.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$195 $195
-58.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$59.6 $59.6
-62.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$76.1 $76.1
-60.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$42.68 $42.68
23.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$14.25 $14.25
-65.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$1,136 $1,136
-82.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$16.2K $16.2K
-68.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$45.71 $45.71
-21.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$41.61 $41.61
-3.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$90.0 $90.0
-11.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$142 $142
-39.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$1,588 $1,588
-38.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$1,352 $1,352
-65.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$2,581 $2,581
-36.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$2,231 $2,231
-46.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$1,686 $1,686
134.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,695 $1,695
289.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Del Rio, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.29
81.56%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Del Rio, TX: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,588 in Del Rio, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $55.0 in Del Rio, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $354 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 Del Rio, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Del Rio, TX cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $3,875 in Del Rio, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Del Rio, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,588 in Del Rio, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Del Rio, TX?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Del Rio, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Del Rio, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,583 in Del Rio, TX – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Del Rio, TX?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,583 in Del Rio, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Del Rio, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Del Rio, TX more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Del Rio, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Del Rio, TX?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Del Rio, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Del Rio, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities