Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Great Falls, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Great Falls, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,226 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,276 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,326 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 43% cheaper than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Great Falls, MT is 66% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$11.33 $11.33
3.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$37.17 $37.17
12.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$14.45 $14.45
-28.03%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$4.10 $4.10
-11.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$2.16 $2.16
-31.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$1.97 $1.97
-53.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$6.83 $6.83
-55.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$3.84 $3.84
16.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$1.10 $1.10
25.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$3.28 $3.28
-43.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$6.06 $6.06
-73.43%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$3.12 $3.12
-17.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$14.02 $14.02
-39.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$13.64 $13.64
-37.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$12.81 $12.81
-14.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$4.43 $4.43
-38.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$1.47 $1.47
2.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$4.89 $4.89
-59.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$3.22 $3.22
-34.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$1.77 $1.77
5.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$1.65 $1.65
31.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$2.20 $2.20
-51.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$2.89 $2.89
-63.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$8.16 $8.16
-48.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$17.61 $17.61
-41.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.78 $1.78
-6.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$4.15 $4.15
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$2.03 $2.03
-73.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
$30.17 $30.17
-12.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$2.46 $2.46
26.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.63 $1.63
50.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$29.40 $29.40
-88.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$0.86 $0.86
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$30.1K $30.1K
0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$25.1K $25.1K
-6.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$159 $159
-47.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$51.0 $51.0
-56.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$76.3 $76.3
-61.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$61.8 $61.8
-14.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$12.03 $12.03
-58.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$800 $800
-75.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$32.5K $32.5K
-83.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$65.4 $65.4
-44.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$32.55 $32.55
23.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$70.7 $70.7
11.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$98.7 $98.7
-12.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$1,457 $1,457
-32.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$1,059 $1,059
-55.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$1,957 $1,957
-18.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$1,821 $1,821
-33.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$2,091 $2,091
92.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$2,094 $2,094
214.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
$3,549 $3,549
-79.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.62
72.51%

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 Great Falls, MT: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,457 in Great Falls, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 397% higher in Great Falls, MT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $37 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $400 in Great Falls, MT – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
Great Falls, MT costs about 77% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Great Falls, MT?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,340 in Great Falls, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Great Falls, MT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Great Falls, MT?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Great Falls, MT at $2,226. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Great Falls, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $2,226 in Great Falls, MT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Great Falls, MT?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Great Falls, MT?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Great Falls, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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