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: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,065 in Newark, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,512 in Newark, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,959 in Newark, NJ.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 57% less than in Newark, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Newark, NJ is 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$20.23 $20.23

-40.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$101 $101

-53.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$13.90 $13.90

-15.47%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$6.52 $6.52

-36.81%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$3.74 $3.74

-62.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$2.46 $2.46

-63.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$7.99 $7.99

-59.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$9.83 $9.83

-28.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$1.38 $1.38

21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$4.47 $4.47

-51.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$7.03 $7.03

-74.82%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$5.83 $5.83

-51.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$7.28 $7.28

26.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$15.32 $15.32

-39.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$20.40 $20.40

-38.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$6.16 $6.16

-52.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$3.28 $3.28

-51.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$5.88 $5.88

-62.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$6.34 $6.34

-62.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$3.38 $3.38

-41.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$4.11 $4.11

-51.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$2.77 $2.77

-55.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$2.44 $2.44

-50.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$12.21 $12.21

-62.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$20.39 $20.39

-48.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

$1.90 $1.90

-11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

$2.78 $2.78

-0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$6.17 $6.17

-90.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$55.8 $55.8

-46.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$3.03 $3.03

72.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$2.12 $2.12

72.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$42.40 $42.40

-86.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.97 $0.97

58.76%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$34.8K $34.8K

-34.46%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.02%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$215 $215

-57.88%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$74.7 $74.7

-66.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$74.5 $74.5

-57.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$29.81 $29.81

130.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

$17.36 $17.36

69.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$14.47 $14.47

-66.41%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$2,173 $2,173

-89.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$61.3K $61.3K

-93.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$59.1 $59.1

-19.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$28.54 $28.54

52.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$119 $119

-32.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$124 $124

-26.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$2,300 $2,300

-52.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$1,566 $1,566

-73.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$4,227 $4,227

-53.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$2,636 $2,636

-51.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$5,720 $5,720

-29.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$5,684 $5,684

17.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$3,604 $3,604

-78.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.4

78.91%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $2,300 in Newark, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newark, NJ pays 366% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $101 in Newark, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $490 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 135% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 366% lower in Newark, NJ. 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: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,300 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 88% less than in Newark, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $226 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,173 in Newark, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,065 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 135% less than in Newark, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.