Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and El Centro, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and El Centro, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 24.3% cheaper than El Centro, CA without rent, and 50.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 32.4% cheaper than El Centro, CA without rent, and 34.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$12.07 $12.07
-0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$39.7 $39.7
6.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$15.08 $15.08
-30.57%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$4.11 $4.11
-12.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.06 $2.06
-30.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.95 $1.95
-54.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$3.06 $3.06
0.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$7.06 $7.06
-35.13%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.11 $1.11
24.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.28 $4.28
-56.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$4.82 $4.82
-67.43%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$3.82 $3.82
-33.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$12.19 $12.19
-29.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$15.91 $15.91
-46.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$15.72 $15.72
-30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$4.4 $4.4
-38.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.73 $1.73
-12.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$5.25 $5.25
-64.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$5.71 $5.71
-61.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.24 $3.24
-42.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.94 $2.94
-25.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.1 $2.1
-49.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.08 $2.08
-47.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$10.87 $10.87
-63.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$13.34 $13.34
-33.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.92 $1.92
-10.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.55 $3.55
-26.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.02 $2.02
-74.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$6.52 $6.52
-50.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$2.7 $2.7
-11.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$28.79 $28.79
-89.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.28 $1.28
2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$26K $26K
16.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$29.4K $29.4K
-18.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$158 $158
-46.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$53.2 $53.2
-58.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$57.9 $57.9
-47.92%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$42.58 $42.58
22.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.04 $15.04
-66.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,501 $1,501
-86.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$23.6K $23.6K
-77.39%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$46.75 $46.75
-23.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$33.77 $33.77
17.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$104 $104
-23.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$102 $102
-13.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,623 $1,623
-40.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$1,369 $1,369
-65.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$2,629 $2,629
-37.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$2,232 $2,232
-46.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,434 $2,434
26.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,662 $2,662
182.84%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
El Centro, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.64
71.99%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for El Centro, CA: October 29, 2025

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