Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Dubuque, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Dubuque, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,813 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,555 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,297 in Dubuque, IA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 30% cheaper than Dubuque, IA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Dubuque, IA is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$15.69 $15.69

-25.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$50.5 $50.5

-16.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$10.09 $10.09

3.07%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$4.60 $4.60

-21.52%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.45

$1.97 $1.97

-25.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$1.03 $1.03

-11.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$2.92 $2.92

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$4.60 $4.60

-2.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$0.77 $0.77

79.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$2.34 $2.34

-21.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$3.11 $3.11

-48.23%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$2.79 $2.79

-7.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$9.77 $9.77

-13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$9.99 $9.99

-15.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$14.10 $14.10

-22.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$3.67 $3.67

-25.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.16 $1.16

29.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$3.56 $3.56

-44.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$3.34 $3.34

-36.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$1.81 $1.81

2.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$2.09 $2.09

3.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$1.87 $1.87

-42.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$1.97 $1.97

-46.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$8.24 $8.24

-49.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$13.31 $13.31

-22.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$1.81 $1.81

-7.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$2.82 $2.82

-11.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.32 $1.32

-59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$44.21 $44.21

-40.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$2.88 $2.88

7.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$1.64 $1.64

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$20.64 $20.64

-84.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$0.81 $0.81

55.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$29.9K $29.9K

0.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$22.5K $22.5K

4.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 MX$1,456

$183 $183

-53.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 MX$385

$48.28 $48.28

-54.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$63.8 $63.8

-53.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$38.22 $38.22

37.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$8.58 $8.58

-42.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,438

$787 $787

-74.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

-77.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$42.57 $42.57

-15.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$35.34 $35.34

13.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$79.5 $79.5

-0.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$91.3 $91.3

-5.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$963 $963

1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$750 $750

-37.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$1,408 $1,408

13.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$966 $966

25.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$1,749 $1,749

130.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$1,740 $1,740

278.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$4,664 $4,664

-84.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

4.88

134.02%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Dubuque, IA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $963 in Dubuque, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 553% higher in Dubuque, IA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $50 in Dubuque, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $315 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Dubuque, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dubuque, IA costs about 44% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,720 in Dubuque, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 68% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $787 in Dubuque, IA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Dubuque, IA at $1,813. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubuque, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $1,813 in Dubuque, IA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubuque, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.