🙂A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,072 in Janesville, WI, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,044 in Janesville, WI, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,016 in Janesville, WI, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 37% cheaper than Janesville, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Janesville, WI is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$18.34$18.34
-36.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$60.3$60.3
-30.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$12.02$12.02
-11.48%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.95$2.95
19.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.24$2.24
-32.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.39$2.39
-59.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.02$2.02
46.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$6.09$6.09
-26.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.09$1.09
26.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$2.20$2.20
-14.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$5.33$5.33
-69.23%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.48$4.48
-43.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$14.56$14.56
-42.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$10.07$10.07
-17.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$11.17$11.17
-3.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$5.32$5.32
-51.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.71$1.71
-14.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$4.38$4.38
-56.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$4.45$4.45
-53.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$2.54$2.54
-29.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$2.82$2.82
-22.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$2.43$2.43
-57.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$2.70$2.70
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$10.15$10.15
-59.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$15.07$15.07
-31.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.49$2.49
-31.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.56$3.56
-27.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.95$1.95
-73.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$59.5$59.5
-55.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$3.23$3.23
0.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.44$1.44
72.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$24.89$24.89
-86.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.10$1.10
19.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$32.5K$32.5K
-6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$26.3K$26.3K
-11.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$183$183
-54.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$63.5$63.5
-65.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$66.2$66.2
-55.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$43.19$43.19
19.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$12.79$12.79
-60.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$2,038$2,038
-90.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$39.4K$39.4K
-86.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$61.0$61.0
-39.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$51.4$51.4
-22.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$97.7$97.7
-19.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$129$129
-32.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,613$1,613
-39.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$795$795
-41.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,232$1,232
33.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,238$1,238
-1.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,653$2,653
48.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,322$2,322
179.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Janesville, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$3,674$3,674
-81.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.6
73.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Janesville, WI: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,613 in Janesville, WI. 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 453% higher in Janesville, WI, 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 $60.0 in Janesville, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $381 – 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 Janesville, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Janesville, WI compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $2,072 in Janesville, WI – roughly 60% apart. Janesville, WI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Janesville, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,107 in Janesville, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Janesville, WI?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Janesville, WI?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $2,072 in Janesville, WI. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Janesville, WI?
Public transport costs about 125% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Janesville, WI at $2,072. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Janesville, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Janesville, WI?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $2,072 in Janesville, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Janesville, WI safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Janesville, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Janesville, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared