Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Newark, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Newark, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,078 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,591 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,105 in Newark, NJ.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 58% less than in Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Newark, NJ is 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

$20.15 $20.15

-40.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

$90.8 $90.8

-52.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

$12.10 $12.10

-12.48%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

$4.94 $4.94

-26.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.54

$2.71 $2.71

-45.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

$1.99 $1.99

-52.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

$5.83 $5.83

-47.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

$6.88 $6.88

-35.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

$1.40 $1.40

2.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

$4.48 $4.48

-58.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

$8.15 $8.15

-80.00%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.99

$5.79 $5.79

-54.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

$15.07 $15.07

-45.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

$16.69 $16.69

-50.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

$21.03 $21.03

-47.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

$7.46 $7.46

-64.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.11

$2.48 $2.48

-39.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

$5.89 $5.89

-66.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

$6.26 $6.26

-66.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

$3.86 $3.86

-53.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

$3.93 $3.93

-44.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

$2.99 $2.99

-63.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

$2.55 $2.55

-59.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

$12.98 $12.98

-69.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

$19.74 $19.74

-48.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

$1.96 $1.96

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

$3.82 $3.82

-34.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

$6.16 $6.16

-91.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

$55.3 $55.3

-51.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$3.04 $3.04

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

$1.36 $1.36

76.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

$21.57 $21.57

-85.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

$0.86 $0.86

47.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.9K MX$537.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

2.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$405.7K

$27.1K $27.1K

-13.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,427

$275 $275

-70.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.45 MX$391

$62.9 $62.9

-64.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

$75.7 $75.7

-60.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

$30.39 $30.39

70.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

$17.26 $17.26

8.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

$15.25 $15.25

-67.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,442

$2,109 $2,109

-90.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

$42.5K $42.5K

-87.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

$52.0 $52.0

-30.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

$41.21 $41.21

-2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$110 $110

-27.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

$168 $168

-47.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.8K

$2,326 $2,326

-58.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

$1,570 $1,570

-70.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.8K

$3,259 $3,259

-51.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.0K

$2,564 $2,564

-52.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

$5,595 $5,595

-29.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

$5,558 $5,558

16.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

$3,603 $3,603

-80.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.63

72.25%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $2,326 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 400% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $91.0 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $532 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 Newark, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 139% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Newark, NJ earns 400% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,326 in Newark, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 105% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,109 in Newark, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,078 in Newark, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Newark, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Newark, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.