🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,574 in Minneapolis, MN.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,924 in Minneapolis, MN.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,274 in Minneapolis, MN.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 50% less than in Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Minneapolis, MN is 92% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$18.12$18.12
-35.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$90.9$90.9
-54.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$11.94$11.94
-10.89%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$6.09$6.09
-42.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.98$2.98
-49.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.33$2.33
-58.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$6.30$6.30
-53.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$7.07$7.07
-37.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.00$1.00
38.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$3.68$3.68
-48.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$5.26$5.26
-68.82%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.13$4.13
-39.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$11.34$11.34
-26.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$14.47$14.47
-42.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$17.72$17.72
-39.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$6.40$6.40
-59.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.83$1.83
-20.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$7.76$7.76
-75.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$5.59$5.59
-62.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$3.17$3.17
-43.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$3.83$3.83
-42.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$2.59$2.59
-59.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$2.32$2.32
-53.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$11.84$11.84
-65.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$15.85$15.85
-34.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.17$2.17
-21.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$4.98$4.98
-48.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$2.07$2.07
-75.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$87.9$87.9
-69.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$4.63$4.63
-29.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.72$1.72
44.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$24.47$24.47
-86.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.91$0.91
43.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$30.1K$30.1K
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$25.4K$25.4K
-7.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$163$163
-49.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$51.7$51.7
-57.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$67.5$67.5
-56.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$55.6$55.6
-7.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$18.10$18.10
1.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$15.08$15.08
-66.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$1,611$1,611
-87.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$26.0K$26.0K
-79.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$62.8$62.8
-41.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$43.86$43.86
-9.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$88.3$88.3
-11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$117$117
-25.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,666$1,666
-41.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$1,204$1,204
-61.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,717$2,717
-39.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$2,059$2,059
-40.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$3,408$3,408
15.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$2,190$2,190
196.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Minneapolis, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$4,407$4,407
-84.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%
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 Minneapolis, MN: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,666 in Minneapolis, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Minneapolis, MN pays 564% 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 $91.0 in Minneapolis, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $454 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 Minneapolis, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Minneapolis, MN?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 98% lower than in Minneapolis, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Minneapolis, MN?
On paper, Minneapolis, MN earns 564% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Minneapolis, MN?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,666 in Minneapolis, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Minneapolis, MN?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,611 in Minneapolis, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Minneapolis, MN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Minneapolis, MN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Minneapolis, MN?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,574 in Minneapolis, MN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Minneapolis, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Minneapolis, MN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Minneapolis, MN. 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