Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Long Branch, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Long Branch, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,802 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,090 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,377 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper than Long Branch, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Long Branch, NJ is 109% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$19.94 $19.94

-41.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$90.9 $90.9

-53.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$12.23 $12.23

-14.96%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$4.99 $4.99

-27.66%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$2.64 $2.64

-44.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$1.93 $1.93

-52.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$4.10 $4.10

-26.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$6.85 $6.85

-34.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.36 $1.36

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$4.12 $4.12

-55.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$10.25 $10.25

-84.29%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$4.35 $4.35

-40.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$15.11 $15.11

-43.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$13.91 $13.91

-38.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$20.89 $20.89

-47.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$6.20 $6.20

-55.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$2.14 $2.14

-29.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$4.96 $4.96

-60.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$5.45 $5.45

-61.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$3.45 $3.45

-46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$2.92 $2.92

-25.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$3.02 $3.02

-64.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$2.42 $2.42

-56.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$12.98 $12.98

-67.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$14.95 $14.95

-31.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$2.04 $2.04

-18.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$4.08 $4.08

-38.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$2.05 $2.05

-73.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$2.92 $2.92

6.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$1.41 $1.41

74.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$21.65 $21.65

-85.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$0.91 $0.91

38.46%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$27.5K $27.5K

9.82%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

-9.23%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$272 $272

-69.07%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$62.4 $62.4

-64.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$77.6 $77.6

-61.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$42.53 $42.53

23.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$15.18 $15.18

-67.39%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$2,058 $2,058

-90.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

-76.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$51.4 $51.4

-30.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$41.30 $41.30

-3.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$94.6 $94.6

-16.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$146 $146

-40.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$1,605 $1,605

-39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$1,328 $1,328

-64.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$2,615 $2,615

-38.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$2,231 $2,231

-45.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$3,053 $3,053

32.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$2,465 $2,465

166.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.68

70.96%

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 Long Branch, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,605 in Long Branch, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $91 in Long Branch, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $487 – 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 Long Branch, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, $2,802 in Long Branch, NJ – roughly 122% apart. Long Branch, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,204 in Long Branch, NJ. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $91.0 in Long Branch, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 94% more in Long Branch, NJ, 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 $1,261, than in Long Branch, NJ at $2,802. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Branch, NJ 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $2,802 in Long Branch, NJ. 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, Long Branch, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.