🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,435 in O'Fallon, MO.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,466 in O'Fallon, MO.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,496 in O'Fallon, MO.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 48% less than in O'Fallon, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, O'Fallon, MO is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$20.47$20.47
-42.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$79.7$79.7
-46.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$9.10$9.10
17.03%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$3.54$3.54
-2.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.39$2.39
-37.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.51$1.51
-37.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.57$2.57
17.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$3.48$3.48
32.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.99$0.99
39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$3.24$3.24
-42.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$3.28$3.28
-50.91%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$3.03$3.03
-14.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$7.25$7.25
13.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$10.39$10.39
-19.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$12.68$12.68
-15.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$4.54$4.54
-42.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.44$1.44
3.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$6.07$6.07
-68.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$5.66$5.66
-63.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$3.41$3.41
-45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$2.78$2.78
-18.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.66$1.66
-36.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$2.05$2.05
-46.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.05$6.05
-31.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$8.45$8.45
22.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.92$1.92
-10.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.20$2.20
18.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$2.05$2.05
-73.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$219$219
-87.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$2.57$2.57
21.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$2.16$2.16
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$21.33$21.33
-85.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.81$0.81
56.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$23.8K$23.8K
27.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$23.8K$23.8K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$123$123
-32.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$61.0$61.0
-62.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$54.6$54.6
-46.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$42.46$42.46
20.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$10.23$10.23
-51.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$1,003$1,003
-80.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$20.3K$20.3K
-74.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$53.8$53.8
-31.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$42.67$42.67
-6.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$77.5$77.5
3.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$69.4$69.4
28.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$1,211$1,211
-21.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$1,200$1,200
-60.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$1,694$1,694
-2.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$1,656$1,656
-26.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,564$1,564
150.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,631$1,631
296.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
O'Fallon, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$5,764$5,764
-88.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.25
82.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for O'Fallon, MO: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $1,211 in O'Fallon, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰O'Fallon, MO pays 764% 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 $80.0 in O'Fallon, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $341 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 O'Fallon, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or O'Fallon, MO?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in O'Fallon, MO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or O'Fallon, MO?
On paper, O'Fallon, MO earns 764% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs O'Fallon, MO?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,211 in O'Fallon, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and O'Fallon, MO?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,003 in O'Fallon, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or O'Fallon, MO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in O'Fallon, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or O'Fallon, MO?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,435 in O'Fallon, MO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in O'Fallon, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or O'Fallon, MO?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in O'Fallon, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared