Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Glendora, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Glendora, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,836 in Glendora, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,245 in Glendora, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,653 in Glendora, CA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Glendora, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Glendora, CA is 106% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$27.25 $27.25
-57.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$786
$99.9 $99.9
-53.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$14.55 $14.55
-19.93%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.1
$5.88 $5.88
-30.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.20
$3.38 $3.38
-59.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.07
$2.82 $2.82
-70.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.6
$7.88 $7.88
-57.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$11.79 $11.79
-41.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.15
$0.69 $0.69
150.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.15
$5.50 $5.50
-58.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.86
$4.70 $4.70
-62.34%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.12
$2.98 $2.98
-8.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$11.12 $11.12
-17.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$6.42 $6.42
38.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$15.15 $15.15
-16.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.0
$4.47 $4.47
-32.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.51
$1.83 $1.83
-14.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.88
$4.22 $4.22
-49.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.22
$4.99 $4.99
-54.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.82
$3.24 $3.24
-38.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.85
$2.57 $2.57
-19.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.91
$2.07 $2.07
-43.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.32
$2.21 $2.21
-45.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.2
$10.40 $10.40
-55.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$180
$17.81 $17.81
-39.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.33
$2.16 $2.16
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.63
$3.13 $3.13
-7.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.68
$2.04 $2.04
-72.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$503
$101 $101
-70.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$91.9
$2.93 $2.93
86.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.5
$2.00 $2.00
85.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$27.84 $27.84
-78.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.22
$1.09 $1.09
42.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$376.8K
$37.3K $37.3K
-40.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.0K
$26.1K $26.1K
-0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,504
$236 $236
-62.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$72.2 $72.2
-65.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$50.7 $50.7
-37.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,144
$41.61 $41.61
62.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$488
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.2
$19.38 $19.38
-73.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,797
$1,983 $1,983
-88.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.3K
$36.4K $36.4K
-88.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$801
$70.0 $70.0
-32.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$759
$49.71 $49.71
-9.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,384
$115 $115
-28.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,555
$145 $145
-36.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.0K
$2,077 $2,077
-48.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,842
$1,281 $1,281
-68.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$3,007 $3,007
-35.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$2,173 $2,173
-40.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.4K
$2,803 $2,803
42.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$111.8K
$2,375 $2,375
179.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Glendora, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.6K
$3,987 $3,987
-81.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.41
78.63%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Glendora, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $2,077 in Glendora, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Glendora, CA pays 433% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $100 in Glendora, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $381 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 Glendora, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Glendora, CA?
Playa del Carmen and Glendora, CA differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,293 vs $2,836 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 433% lower in Glendora, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Glendora, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,077 in Glendora, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $100 in Glendora, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Glendora, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,836 in Glendora, CA – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,836 in Glendora, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Glendora, CA. 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 Glendora, CA?
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 Glendora, CA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Glendora, CA 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 Glendora, CA?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Glendora, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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