Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,961 in Minot, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,475 in Minot, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,989 in Minot, ND, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 36% cheaper than Minot, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Minot, ND is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$16.05 $16.05
-27.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$73.9 $73.9
-43.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$12.69 $12.69
-18.05%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$7.64 $7.64
-52.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$2.83 $2.83
-48.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$2.27 $2.27
-59.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$5.64 $5.64
-46.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$6.95 $6.95
-35.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$1.06 $1.06
30.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$3.12 $3.12
-41.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$3.33 $3.33
-51.65%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$5.06 $5.06
-49.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$12.11 $12.11
-29.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$11.35 $11.35
-25.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$23.42 $23.42
-53.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$4.45 $4.45
-38.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$1.94 $1.94
-22.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$3.58 $3.58
-45.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$4.33 $4.33
-51.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$3.40 $3.40
-45.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$3.84 $3.84
-43.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$3.06 $3.06
-65.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$2.70 $2.70
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$8.17 $8.17
-48.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$14.87 $14.87
-30.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.84 $1.84
-9.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$3.35 $3.35
-25.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.95 $1.95
-72.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$3.51 $3.51
-11.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.65 $1.65
49.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$29.17 $29.17
-88.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$0.87 $0.87
44.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$30.0K $30.0K
0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$25.7K $25.7K
-8.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$204 $204
-58.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$52.0 $52.0
-57.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$75.4 $75.4
-60.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$43.22 $43.22
21.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$13.32 $13.32
-62.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$1,051 $1,051
-81.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
-77.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$35.35 $35.35
1.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$61.7 $61.7
-35.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$96.7 $96.7
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$114 $114
-23.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$927 $927
5.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$661 $661
-28.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$1,835 $1,835
-13.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$2,203 $2,203
-44.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$1,576 $1,576
155.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$1,596 $1,596
312.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Minot, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
$3,787 $3,787
-81.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.63
102.84%

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 Minot, ND: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $927 in Minot, ND. 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 430% higher in Minot, ND, 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 $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $74 in Minot, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $417 – 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 Minot, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, $1,961 in Minot, ND – roughly 56% apart. Minot, ND costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Minot, ND?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,942 in Minot, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Minot, ND?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,961 in Minot, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,051 in Minot, ND. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Minot, ND at $1,961. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Minot, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND?
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 $1,961 in Minot, ND. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Minot, ND?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Minot, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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