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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,536 in DeLand, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,773 in DeLand, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,010 in DeLand, FL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in DeLand, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, DeLand, FL is 89% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$18.78 $18.78
-37.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$80.0 $80.0
-47.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$11.08 $11.08
-6.14%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$5.00 $5.00
-27.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$2.61 $2.61
-43.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$1.96 $1.96
-53.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$6.13 $6.13
-50.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$6.92 $6.92
-35.40%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$0.81 $0.81
70.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$3.21 $3.21
-42.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$2.69 $2.69
-40.15%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$2.99 $2.99
-14.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$12.11 $12.11
-29.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$11.46 $11.46
-25.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$20.44 $20.44
-46.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$4.97 $4.97
-45.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$0.98 $0.98
53.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$4.19 $4.19
-53.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$4.79 $4.79
-55.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$2.86 $2.86
-34.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$3.84 $3.84
-43.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$2.20 $2.20
-51.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$1.90 $1.90
-44.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$9.81 $9.81
-57.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$17.78 $17.78
-42.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.85 $1.85
-9.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$3.39 $3.39
-26.55%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.96 $1.96
-72.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$3.57 $3.57
-13.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.61 $1.61
52.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$28.69 $28.69
-88.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$0.86 $0.86
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$29.9K $29.9K
0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$25.7K $25.7K
-8.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$188 $188
-55.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$52.8 $52.8
-57.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$67.7 $67.7
-56.21%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$30.54 $30.54
72.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$13.61 $13.61
-63.63%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$1,293 $1,293
-84.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
-77.51%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$50.3 $50.3
-28.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$40.27 $40.27
-0.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$86.4 $86.4
-8.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$114 $114
-24.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$1,592 $1,592
-38.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$1,365 $1,365
-65.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$2,589 $2,589
-38.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$2,266 $2,266
-46.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$2,612 $2,612
54.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$2,288 $2,288
187.54%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
DeLand, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.35
55.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for DeLand, FL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,592 in DeLand, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $80 in DeLand, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $389 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 DeLand, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is DeLand, FL cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $3,804 in DeLand, FL 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 DeLand, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,592 in DeLand, FL. 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 DeLand, FL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in DeLand, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs DeLand, FL?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,536 in DeLand, FL โ€“ a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or DeLand, FL?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,536 in DeLand, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in DeLand, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or DeLand, FL more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in DeLand, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 101% less than in DeLand, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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