🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 in Florence, KY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,366 in Florence, KY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,514 in Florence, KY.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 42% less than in Florence, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Florence, KY is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$17.81$17.81
-32.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$77.9$77.9
-45.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.12$10.12
4.64%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.25$4.25
-14.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.22$2.22
-33.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$2.01$2.01
-53.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$6.02$6.02
-48.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.19$7.19
-37.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.78$0.78
83.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.71$2.71
-30.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$3.79$3.79
-56.99%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.18$3.18
-16.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.16$10.16
-19.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$9.47$9.47
-12.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$14.42$14.42
-23.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$4.87$4.87
-45.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.38$1.38
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$4.03$4.03
-50.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.95$4.95
-57.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.03$2.03
-11.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.70$2.70
-19.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.86$1.86
-41.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.42$1.42
-26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$8.88$8.88
-55.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$15.89$15.89
-35.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.10$2.10
-17.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.84$1.84
35.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.97$1.97
-73.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$64.6$64.6
-58.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.70$2.70
16.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.26$1.26
90.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$25.14$25.14
-87.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.82$0.82
54.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$34.3K$34.3K
-10.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$25.3K$25.3K
-8.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$200$200
-59.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$55.8$55.8
-59.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$58.8$58.8
-49.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$17.30$17.30
199.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$13.72$13.72
-63.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$1,233$1,233
-83.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$13.3K$13.3K
-60.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$49.39$49.39
-26.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$43.69$43.69
-8.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$87.9$87.9
-9.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$101$101
-11.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$1,276$1,276
-24.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$1,049$1,049
-55.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$2,167$2,167
-26.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,833$1,833
-34.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,878$1,878
109.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,239$1,239
420.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Florence, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$3,453$3,453
-79.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.54
74.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Florence, KY: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,276 in Florence, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Florence, KY pays 379% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $78.0 in Florence, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $339 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 Florence, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Florence, KY cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Florence, KY?
On paper, Florence, KY earns 379% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Florence, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,276 in Florence, KY. 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 Florence, KY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Florence, KY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Florence, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $78.0 in Florence, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Florence, KY?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 in Florence, KY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Florence, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Florence, KY more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Florence, KY, 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 – expenses run 72% less than in Florence, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared