🙂A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,238 in Duluth, MN, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,552 in Duluth, MN, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,866 in Duluth, MN, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Duluth, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Duluth, MN is 67% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$18.03$18.03
-34.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$64.9$64.9
-35.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.81$9.81
8.46%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$5.54$5.54
-36.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$2.61$2.61
-42.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$1.83$1.83
-46.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$6.33$6.33
-53.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$7.02$7.02
-36.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$0.90$0.90
53.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$2.88$2.88
-34.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$3.72$3.72
-55.91%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$4.07$4.07
-38.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$11.23$11.23
-25.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$11.09$11.09
-24.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$17.81$17.81
-39.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$6.41$6.41
-59.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$1.56$1.56
-6.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$7.73$7.73
-75.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$5.70$5.70
-63.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$3.20$3.20
-44.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$3.80$3.80
-42.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.12$1.12
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$2.15$2.15
-49.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$10.81$10.81
-62.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$16.27$16.27
-36.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$1.75$1.75
-2.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$3.97$3.97
-35.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
$2.19$2.19
-76.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
$40.30$40.30
-34.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$4.22$4.22
-22.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$1.66$1.66
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$24.03$24.03
-86.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$0.87$0.87
50.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$22.4K$22.4K
35.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$24.0K$24.0K
-2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$161$161
-48.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$43.08$43.08
-48.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$69.3$69.3
-57.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$62.4$62.4
-17.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$26.40$26.40
-30.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$14.81$14.81
-65.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$1,054$1,054
-80.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$10.1K$10.1K
-48.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$63.7$63.7
-42.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$44.10$44.10
-9.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$90.4$90.4
-13.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$117$117
-25.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$1,178$1,178
-17.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
$913$913
-48.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,270$2,270
-27.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
$1,983$1,983
-38.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
$2,412$2,412
63.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
$2,264$2,264
187.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Duluth, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$3,754$3,754
-82.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.37
79.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Duluth, MN: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,178 in Duluth, MN. 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 465% higher in Duluth, MN, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $65.0 in Duluth, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $409 – 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 Duluth, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duluth, MN cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Duluth, MN is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,356 in Duluth, MN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Duluth, MN?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $2,238 in Duluth, MN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Duluth, MN?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Duluth, MN at $2,238. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duluth, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Duluth, MN more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duluth, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared