Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Highlands Ranch, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Highlands Ranch, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,638 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,751 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 50% cheaper than Highlands Ranch, CO, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Highlands Ranch, CO is 89% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$208

$15.15 $15.15

-21.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$730

$72.0 $72.0

-41.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$181

$9.83 $9.83

6.00%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.2

$4.71 $4.71

-25.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MX$26.39

$1.97 $1.97

-22.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.84

$2.37 $2.37

-61.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$52.9

$4.91 $4.91

-38.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.1

$6.15 $6.15

-28.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.73

$1.05 $1.05

35.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.87

$3.12 $3.12

-41.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.45

$3.32 $3.32

-50.90%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.20

$4.26 $4.26

-40.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$149

$10.83 $10.83

-20.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$7.32 $7.32

15.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$188

$16.62 $16.62

-35.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$47.94

$3.86 $3.86

-28.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.00

$1.49 $1.49

-3.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.83

$4.26 $4.26

-55.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.77

$4.94 $4.94

-56.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.97

$2.32 $2.32

-23.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.71

$1.90 $1.90

16.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.60

$2.40 $2.40

-55.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.79

$2.03 $2.03

-46.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.2

$9.72 $9.72

-57.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$182

$19.07 $19.07

-45.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.34

$2.29 $2.29

-24.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.92

$2.69 $2.69

-4.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.94

$1.95 $1.95

-73.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$55.9

$2.53 $2.53

26.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.55

$1.44 $1.44

73.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.4

$25.44 $25.44

-87.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.87

$0.86 $0.86

46.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$516.6K

$27.3K $27.3K

8.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

-9.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,427

$164 $164

-49.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.73 MX$395

$42.34 $42.34

-46.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$512

$78.0 $78.0

-62.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$908

$42.56 $42.56

22.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$85.9

$12.05 $12.05

-59.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,511

$1,507 $1,507

-86.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$90.8K

$12.4K $12.4K

-58.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$625

$58.8 $58.8

-38.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$89.9 $89.9

-55.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$78.5 $78.5

1.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,554

$107 $107

-16.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.5K

$1,586 $1,586

-40.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,097

$1,344 $1,344

-65.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.4K

$2,615 $2,615

-37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

$2,205 $2,205

-45.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.4K

$3,131 $3,131

25.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$111.9K

$2,601 $2,601

147.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

$7,614 $7,614

-91.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.59

73.29%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,586 in Highlands Ranch, CO. 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 1057% higher in Highlands Ranch, CO, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $72.0 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $361 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Highlands Ranch, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO – roughly 101% apart. Highlands Ranch, CO costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,786 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,507 in Highlands Ranch, CO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $2,524. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Playa del Carmen to $2,524 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.