Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Newport News, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Newport News, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,653 in Newport News, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,957 in Newport News, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,260 in Newport News, VA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 53% less than in Newport News, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Newport News, VA is 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

$27.38 $27.38

-56.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

$61.1 $61.1

-31.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

$10.49 $10.49

2.48%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

$5.79 $5.79

-39.55%

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

$1.45 MX$25.41

$2.86 $2.86

-49.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

$2.34 $2.34

-62.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

$4.90 $4.90

-39.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

$7.54 $7.54

-40.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

$1.05 $1.05

36.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

$3.83 $3.83

-51.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

$2.94 $2.94

-46.60%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

$2.99 $2.99

-16.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

$9.68 $9.68

-14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

$15.37 $15.37

-45.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

$19.22 $19.22

-44.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

$6.03 $6.03

-56.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

$1.07 $1.07

34.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

$5.12 $5.12

-61.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

$4.37 $4.37

-52.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

$2.75 $2.75

-32.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

$3.28 $3.28

-33.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

$2.08 $2.08

-50.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

$2.55 $2.55

-58.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

$7.71 $7.71

-46.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

$15.92 $15.92

-36.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

$1.78 $1.78

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

$4.61 $4.61

-45.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

$2.45 $2.45

-79.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

$55.5 $55.5

-53.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

$3.91 $3.91

-17.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

$1.31 $1.31

83.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$29.61 $29.61

-89.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

$0.87 $0.87

51.72%

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

$30.4K $30.4K

-2.28%

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

-8.65%

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

$205 $205

-59.98%

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

$22.95 MX$403

$59.6 $59.6

-61.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

$68.3 $68.3

-55.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

$40.31 $40.31

28.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

$13.43 $13.43

-62.92%

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

$197 MX$3,463

$2,685 $2,685

-92.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

$41.0K $41.0K

-86.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

$42.06 $42.06

-15.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

$50.8 $50.8

-20.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

$104 $104

-24.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

$103 $103

-13.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

$1,452 $1,452

-34.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

$1,220 $1,220

-61.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

$2,237 $2,237

-26.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

$2,247 $2,247

-46.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

$2,300 $2,300

76.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

$2,245 $2,245

188.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

$3,928 $3,928

-83.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.45

77.05%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $1,452 in Newport News, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Newport News, VA pays 501% 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 $61.0 in Newport News, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $419 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 Newport News, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Newport News, VA differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $2,653 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 501% lower in Newport News, VA. 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: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,452 in Newport News, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,653 in Newport News, VA – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 113% less than in Newport News, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,653 in Newport News, VA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Newport News, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Newport News, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.