Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Little Rock, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Little Rock, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,304 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,183 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,062 in Little Rock, AR, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 45% cheaper than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Little Rock, AR is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.61 MX$201

$17.84 $17.84

-34.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$742

$59.3 $59.3

-27.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.60 MX$184

$11.53 $11.53

-8.07%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.3

$4.78 $4.78

-24.90%

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

$1.45 MX$25.21

$2.83 $2.83

-48.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 MX$15.58

$2.36 $2.36

-61.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$4.87 $4.87

-37.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 MX$79.2

$5.83 $5.83

-21.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.20

$1.02 $1.02

42.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$31.72

$3.41 $3.41

-46.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.92

$2.95 $2.95

-45.42%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.05

$3.05 $3.05

-16.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 MX$148

$9.46 $9.46

-9.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 MX$147

$11.64 $11.64

-27.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$16.56 $16.56

-34.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.37

$4.66 $4.66

-41.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.91

$1.40 $1.40

6.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 MX$33.73

$2.81 $2.81

-30.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.57

$3.93 $3.93

-45.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.05

$4.02 $4.02

-53.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.00

$2.52 $2.52

-13.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.62

$1.97 $1.97

-45.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.81

$1.92 $1.92

-43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MX$70.5

$8.30 $8.30

-51.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.46 MX$182

$12.21 $12.21

-14.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MX$28.71

$1.65 $1.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 MX$44.23

$2.26 $2.26

12.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.65

$1.37 $1.37

-59.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$455

$35.79 $35.79

-26.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.5

$2.47 $2.47

27.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 MX$41.17

$1.46 $1.46

62.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.2

$23.99 $23.99

-86.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.81

$0.77 $0.77

70.13%

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

$30.5K MX$530.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

26.33%

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

$23.8K MX$413.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

-6.54%

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

$83.1 MX$1,443

$281 $281

-70.44%

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

$22.15 MX$385

$57.7 $57.7

-61.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.37 MX$510

$71.3 $71.3

-58.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MX$889

$53.0 $53.0

-3.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

$12.24 $12.24

52.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MX$84.9

$12.29 $12.29

-60.21%

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

$199 MX$3,449

$1,035 $1,035

-80.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,207 MX$90.4K

$18.7K $18.7K

-72.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$624

$53.9 $53.9

-33.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.39 MX$684

$40.73 $40.73

-3.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 MX$1,394

$104 $104

-22.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 MX$1,520

$117 $117

-25.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.7K

$1,277 $1,277

-24.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MX$8,370

$954 $954

-49.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,645 MX$28.6K

$1,805 $1,805

-8.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 MX$20.7K

$1,276 $1,276

-6.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.7K

$1,955 $1,955

102.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$113.1K

$1,381 $1,381

371.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MX$12.6K

$3,828 $3,828

-81.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.58

73.56%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Little Rock, AR: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,277 in Little Rock, AR. 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 427% higher in Little Rock, AR, 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $59 in Little Rock, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $352 – 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 Little Rock, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $2,304 in Little Rock, AR – roughly 83% apart. Little Rock, AR costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,456 in Little Rock, AR. 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.

Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,035 in Little Rock, AR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Little Rock, AR, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Little Rock, AR at $2,304. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Little Rock, AR 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 $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,304 in Little Rock, AR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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