Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Massapequa, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,620 in Massapequa, NY, rent and utilities included – about $17,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Massapequa, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,620
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Massapequa, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Massapequa, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,620 in Massapequa, NY.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Massapequa, NY $2,620

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,941 in Massapequa, NY.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Massapequa, NY $3,941

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,262 in Massapequa, NY.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Massapequa, NY $5,262

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Massapequa, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 11% below, Massapequa, NY is 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$24.86 $24.86
-56.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$98.1 $98.1
-54.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$10.95 $10.95
7.40%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$5.34 $5.34
-31.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$2.15 $2.15
-37.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$1.51 $1.51
-45.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$7.79 $7.79
-60.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$8.04 $8.04
-38.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.27 $1.27
15.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$4.24 $4.24
-47.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$7.65 $7.65
-80.65%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$5.91 $5.91
-57.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$12.25 $12.25
-38.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$11.76 $11.76
-32.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$17.07 $17.07
-26.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$5.49 $5.49
-49.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$1.77 $1.77
-19.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$6.17 $6.17
-57.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$6.07 $6.07
-64.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$5.46 $5.46
-63.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$3.71 $3.71
-46.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.80 $2.80
-59.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$2.95 $2.95
-59.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$11.44 $11.44
-62.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$24.97 $24.97
-59.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$1.69 $1.69
-8.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$5.55 $5.55
-52.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.99 $1.99
-73.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$2.94 $2.94
66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$1.99 $1.99
72.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$24.47 $24.47
-78.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.11 $1.11
30.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$27.3K $27.3K
-22.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-12.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$213 $213
-59.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$75.6 $75.6
-68.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$65.4 $65.4
-56.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$38.97 $38.97
59.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$14.72 $14.72
-65.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$2,237 $2,237
-91.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$23.9K $23.9K
-83.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$41.57 $41.57
6.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$57.3 $57.3
-27.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$76.2 $76.2
-4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$157 $157
-42.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$1,801 $1,801
-45.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$1,173 $1,173
-68.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$2,463 $2,463
-31.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$1,978 $1,978
-44.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$2,745 $2,745
43.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$2,243 $2,243
173.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Massapequa, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.75
69.63%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Massapequa, NY: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Massapequa, NY
$1.2K 215% $800
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Massapequa, NY
$489 89.3% $231
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Massapequa, NY
$365 82.6% $165
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Massapequa, NY
$354 158% $217
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Massapequa, NY
$149 33.8% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Massapequa, NY
$68 5.5% $4
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Massapequa, NY
$21 * 59.7% $31

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $979 in Playa del Carmen and $1,801 in Massapequa, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $98.0 in Massapequa, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $489 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Massapequa, NY
🕒 Local time
07:36 7:36 AM
08:36 8:36 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
21,355
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Massapequa, NY 2,570 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Massapequa, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Massapequa, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Massapequa, NY cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,806 in Playa del Carmen and $3,930 in Massapequa, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Massapequa, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,801 in Massapequa, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Massapequa, NY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Massapequa, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Massapequa, NY?
All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,620 in Massapequa, NY – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Massapequa, NY?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,620 in Massapequa, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Massapequa, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Massapequa, NY more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Massapequa, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Massapequa, NY?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Massapequa, NY 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 118% less than in Massapequa, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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