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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,647 in Ontario, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,242 in Ontario, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,837 in Ontario, CA.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Ontario, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Ontario, CA is 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$204

$17.99 $17.99

-34.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$725

$80.4 $80.4

-48.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$181

$12.11 $12.11

-14.04%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$5.26 $5.26

-31.37%

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

$1.46 MX$25.28

$2.71 $2.71

-46.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.97 $1.97

-50.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.8

$6.86 $6.86

-57.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$80.2

$7.20 $7.20

-35.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

$1.08 $1.08

32.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.98

$3.95 $3.95

-51.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.18

$4.16 $4.16

-62.26%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.73

$4.02 $4.02

-34.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$146

$10.72 $10.72

-21.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$149

$8.78 $8.78

-2.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$191

$14.28 $14.28

-22.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.91

$3.37 $3.37

-19.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.15

$1.66 $1.66

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.22

$3.95 $3.95

-51.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.69

$5.43 $5.43

-60.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.53

$3.27 $3.27

-42.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.76

$2.95 $2.95

-24.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.76

$1.44 $1.44

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.63

$2.12 $2.12

-49.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$72.2

$11.02 $11.02

-62.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$179

$16.13 $16.13

-36.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.20

$1.99 $1.99

-15.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.96

$3.43 $3.43

-26.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.61

$1.98 $1.98

-72.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.5

$6.78 $6.78

-52.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.73

$4.23 $4.23

-41.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.5

$29.03 $29.03

-88.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.91

$1.25 $1.25

5.60%

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

$30.2K MX$523.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

20.10%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$29.2K $29.2K

-19.89%

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

$81.4 MX$1,412

$254 $254

-67.91%

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

$22.41 MX$389

$46.05 $46.05

-51.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$520

$57.6 $57.6

-47.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$102 $102

-49.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$319

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$89.6

$13.97 $13.97

-63.06%

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

$202 MX$3,501

$1,185 $1,185

-82.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$92.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-77.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$618

$47.24 $47.24

-24.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$701

$33.89 $33.89

19.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,365

$85.7 $85.7

-8.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,507

$83.6 $83.6

3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.5K

$1,903 $1,903

-50.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,298

$1,372 $1,372

-65.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$28.1K

$2,883 $2,883

-43.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$2,953 $2,953

-58.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.6K

$3,960 $3,960

1.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$112.3K

$3,694 $3,694

75.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.7K

$3,570 $3,570

-81.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.58

73.56%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Ontario, CA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $1,903 in Ontario, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ontario, CA pays 430% 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 $80.0 in Ontario, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $368 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 Ontario, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 430% lower in Ontario, CA. 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: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,903 in Ontario, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Ontario, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,647 in Ontario, CA – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,647 in Ontario, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ontario, CA. 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 Ontario, CA, 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 105% less than in Ontario, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.