Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and El Dorado, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and El Dorado, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,688 in El Dorado, AR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,428 in El Dorado, AR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,168 in El Dorado, AR.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in El Dorado, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, El Dorado, AR is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$17.66 $17.66

-33.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$59.2 $59.2

-29.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$11.36 $11.36

-8.45%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$4.84 $4.84

-25.41%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$2.79 $2.79

-47.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$2.33 $2.33

-60.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$5.09 $5.09

-40.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$6.14 $6.14

-27.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$3.53 $3.53

-47.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$2.99 $2.99

-46.15%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$3.07 $3.07

-16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$9.79 $9.79

-13.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$11.53 $11.53

-26.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$16.55 $16.55

-33.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$4.29 $4.29

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.41 $1.41

6.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$2.85 $2.85

-31.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$3.85 $3.85

-44.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$1.58 $1.58

17.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$2.48 $2.48

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$1.99 $1.99

-46.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$1.75 $1.75

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$8.31 $8.31

-49.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$12.21 $12.21

-15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$1.65 $1.65

1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$2.15 $2.15

15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.98 $1.98

-72.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$2.45 $2.45

26.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$1.48 $1.48

66.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$23.76 $23.76

-86.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$0.76 $0.76

65.79%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$24.0K $24.0K

25.65%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

-10.26%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$137 $137

-38.60%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$58.8 $58.8

-62.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$40.76 $40.76

-27.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$43.83 $43.83

20.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$8.86 $8.86

-44.13%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$1,030 $1,030

-80.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$18.8K $18.8K

-71.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$53.4 $53.4

-32.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$35.40 $35.40

13.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$78.5 $78.5

0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$58.8 $58.8

47.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$1,595 $1,595

-38.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$615 $615

-23.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$2,254 $2,254

-29.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$809 $809

50.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$2,716 $2,716

48.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$2,185 $2,185

201.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$4,154 $4,154

-82.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.58

73.56%

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 El Dorado, AR: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,595 in El Dorado, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Dorado, AR pays 482% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $59 in El Dorado, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $343 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 El Dorado, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, El Dorado, AR earns 482% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,595 in El Dorado, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in El Dorado, AR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,688 in El Dorado, AR – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,688 in El Dorado, AR, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in El Dorado, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in El Dorado, AR, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in El Dorado, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.