Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Monterey, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Monterey, CA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 18.5% cheaper than Monterey, CA without rent, and 61.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 48.6% cheaper than Monterey, CA without rent, and 53.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$16.22 $16.22
-26.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$64.9 $64.9
-34.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$9.45 $9.45
10.79%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$4.48 $4.48
-19.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.16 $3.16
-54.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.63 $1.63
-45.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$5.86 $5.86
-47.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$4.44 $4.44
3.15%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.34 $1.34
2.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.41 $3.41
-45.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$4.37 $4.37
-64.07%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4 $4
-36.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$9.38 $9.38
-8.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$17.66 $17.66
-51.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$14.04 $14.04
-21.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$3.85 $3.85
-29.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.15 $1.15
31.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$2.46 $2.46
-23.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$2.23 $2.23
-1.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$1.92 $1.92
-2.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.23 $2.23
-1.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.83 $1.83
-41.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.94 $1.94
-43.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$12.16 $12.16
-67.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$17.28 $17.28
-48.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.2 $2.2
-21.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.44 $2.44
6.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.04 $2.04
-74.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$53 $53
-49.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$1.58 $1.58
105.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$0.89 $0.89
167.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$28.75 $28.75
-89.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.22 $1.22
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$24.2K $24.2K
25.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$24.2K $24.2K
-0.83%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$188 $188
-55.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$51.7 $51.7
-57.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$61.8 $61.8
-51.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$43.27 $43.27
20.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$10.52 $10.52
77.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$12.3 $12.3
-58.78%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$570 $570
-64.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$12.5K $12.5K
-57.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$68.4 $68.4
-47.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$119 $119
-66.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$98.5 $98.5
-19.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$202 $202
-56.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$2,323 $2,323
-58.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$2,004 $2,004
-76.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$3,623 $3,623
-54.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$3,664 $3,664
-67.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$7,809 $7,809
-60.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$5,920 $5,920
27.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Monterey, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$4,380 $4,380
-81.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.4
78.44%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

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