Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown, DE

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,858 in Georgetown, DE, rent and utilities included – about $19,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Georgetown, DE, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Georgetown, DE
🇺🇸 United States
$2,858
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown, DE

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,858 in Georgetown, DE.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Georgetown, DE $2,858

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,083 in Georgetown, DE.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Georgetown, DE $4,083

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,308 in Georgetown, DE.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Georgetown, DE $5,308

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 58% less than in Georgetown, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Georgetown, DE is 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$20.28 $20.28
-46.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$34.70 $34.70
24.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$12.16 $12.16
-3.13%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$3.97 $3.97
-4.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$2.62 $2.62
-51.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$2.03 $2.03
-61.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$6.05 $6.05
-47.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$4.94 $4.94
-0.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$1.08 $1.08
30.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$3.67 $3.67
-39.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$6.54 $6.54
-78.29%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$6.49 $6.49
-61.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$13.06 $13.06
-44.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$17.04 $17.04
-54.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$19.88 $19.88
-36.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$4.54 $4.54
-38.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$2.22 $2.22
-38.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$5.21 $5.21
-51.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$5.90 $5.90
-64.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$4.15 $4.15
-53.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$4.67 $4.67
-59.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$2.01 $2.01
-42.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$2.53 $2.53
-53.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$11.19 $11.19
-61.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$20.84 $20.84
-52.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
$2.74 $2.74
-42.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
$3.29 $3.29
-18.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$2.09 $2.09
-73.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$67.2 $67.2
-60.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$2.95 $2.95
68.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$2.12 $2.12
57.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$41.27 $41.27
-87.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$0.95 $0.95
51.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$31.1K $31.1K
-33.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-10.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$250 $250
-66.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$49.92 $49.92
-53.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$62.3 $62.3
-54.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$43.68 $43.68
30.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$20.25 $20.25
-74.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$3,048 $3,048
-93.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$34.1K $34.1K
-88.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$39.85 $39.85
8.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$25.28 $25.28
63.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$78.7 $78.7
-5.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$123 $123
-27.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$1,509 $1,509
-35.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$1,405 $1,405
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,827 $2,827
-39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,360 $2,360
-54.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$3,136 $3,136
25.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$2,416 $2,416
154.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.67
71.66%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Georgetown, DE: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Georgetown, DE
$1.4K 269% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Georgetown, DE
$492 93.1% $237
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Georgetown, DE
$305 50.8% $103
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Georgetown, DE
$362 165% $226
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Georgetown, DE
$120 7.3% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Georgetown, DE
$84 25.1% $17
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Georgetown, DE
$89 76.6% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,509 in Georgetown, DE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $35 in Georgetown, DE. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $492, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Georgetown, DE
🕒 Local time
23:26 11:26 PM
00:26 12:26 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
67,176
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Georgetown, DE 2,300 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Georgetown, DE

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Georgetown, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown, DE?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,858 in Georgetown, DE, so Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Georgetown, DE?
You’d need roughly $1,806 in Playa del Carmen and $4,287 in Georgetown, DE to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown, DE?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,509 in Georgetown, DE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Georgetown, DE?
All in, you’ll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,858 in Georgetown, DE – Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Georgetown, DE?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 60% less than in Georgetown, DE. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,858 in Georgetown, DE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Georgetown, DE. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown, DE?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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