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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,560 in Georgetown, DE.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,627 in Georgetown, DE.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,695 in Georgetown, DE.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Georgetown, DE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Georgetown, DE is 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$17.31 $17.31
-32.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$35.12 $35.12
19.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$11.81 $11.81
-11.01%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$4.11 $4.11
-12.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$2.36 $2.36
-36.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$1.55 $1.55
-40.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$5.82 $5.82
-49.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$4.96 $4.96
-11.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$1.04 $1.04
34.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$4.37 $4.37
-56.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$5.69 $5.69
-72.58%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$6.75 $6.75
-61.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$13.02 $13.02
-36.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$10.10 $10.10
-17.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$19.67 $19.67
-44.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$4.52 $4.52
-40.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$2.16 $2.16
-30.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$4.16 $4.16
-55.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$4.33 $4.33
-49.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$3.12 $3.12
-40.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$2.61 $2.61
-14.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$1.99 $1.99
-46.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$2.70 $2.70
-59.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$11.12 $11.12
-62.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$14.87 $14.87
-29.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$1.78 $1.78
-6.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$4.32 $4.32
-39.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$2.04 $2.04
-73.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$3.01 $3.01
2.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$2.12 $2.12
13.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$41.36 $41.36
-92.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$0.75 $0.75
74.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$23.6K $23.6K
26.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$25.6K $25.6K
-8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$211 $211
-61.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$49.90 $49.90
-54.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$58.4 $58.4
-48.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$43.83 $43.83
20.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$19.90 $19.90
-75.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$1,719 $1,719
-88.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$15.8K $15.8K
-67.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$40.04 $40.04
-10.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$25.05 $25.05
60.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$79.8 $79.8
-0.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$96.4 $96.4
-10.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$1,573 $1,573
-37.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$1,350 $1,350
-65.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$2,638 $2,638
-37.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$2,179 $2,179
-44.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$3,106 $3,106
27.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$2,670 $2,670
147.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Georgetown, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.74
69.44%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Georgetown, DE: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,573 in Georgetown, DE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Georgetown, DE. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $429, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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?
Playa del Carmen and Georgetown, DE differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $2,560 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – 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 $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $3,839 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,573 in Georgetown, DE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Georgetown, DE?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,719 in Georgetown, DE. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $35.00 in Georgetown, DE. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,560 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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Georgetown, DE safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Georgetown, DE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Georgetown, DE?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Georgetown, DE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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