Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Manchester, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Manchester, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,902 in Manchester, NH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,110 in Manchester, NH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,318 in Manchester, NH.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 57% less than in Manchester, NH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Manchester, NH is 117% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$27.05 $27.05
-55.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$83.5 $83.5
-49.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$11.15 $11.15
-3.59%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$4.29 $4.29
-18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$2.39 $2.39
-39.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$1.97 $1.97
-55.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$6.13 $6.13
-51.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$7.04 $7.04
-35.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$1.02 $1.02
40.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$3.05 $3.05
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$4.89 $4.89
-67.89%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$4.45 $4.45
-43.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$11.75 $11.75
-29.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$10.98 $10.98
-23.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$14.35 $14.35
-25.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$5.46 $5.46
-52.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$2.10 $2.10
-31.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$4.46 $4.46
-56.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$6.01 $6.01
-65.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$2.40 $2.40
-22.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$3.20 $3.20
-32.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$2.19 $2.19
-52.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$2.40 $2.40
-55.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$9.90 $9.90
-58.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$14.80 $14.80
-31.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$1.89 $1.89
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$4.96 $4.96
-48.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$2.03 $2.03
-74.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$60.7 $60.7
-57.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$4.03 $4.03
-19.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$0.92 $0.92
161.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$29.49 $29.49
-89.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$0.83 $0.83
59.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$23.8K $23.8K
24.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$24.8K $24.8K
-4.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$218 $218
-62.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$50.6 $50.6
-54.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$83.2 $83.2
-63.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$42.86 $42.86
21.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
$40.79 $40.79
-54.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$11.73 $11.73
-57.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$1,250 $1,250
-84.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$17.8K $17.8K
-70.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$44.61 $44.61
-20.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$44.74 $44.74
-9.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$89.3 $89.3
-11.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$114 $114
-22.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$1,784 $1,784
-46.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
$1,516 $1,516
-68.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$2,431 $2,431
-32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$2,344 $2,344
-48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
$2,926 $2,926
38.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
$2,929 $2,929
120.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Manchester, NH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$4,107 $4,107
-84.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.24
83.01%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Manchester, NH: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $1,784 in Manchester, NH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manchester, NH pays 528% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $84.0 in Manchester, NH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $399 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 Manchester, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manchester, NH cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 131% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Manchester, NH?
On paper, salaries run 528% lower in Manchester, NH. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Manchester, NH?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,784 in Manchester, NH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,250 in Manchester, NH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Manchester, NH?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Manchester, NH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Manchester, NH?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,902 in Manchester, NH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Manchester, NH. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Manchester, NH more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, NH, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Manchester, NH?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Manchester, NH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Manchester, NH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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