Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oxford, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oxford, MS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,360 in Oxford, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,736 in Oxford, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,112 in Oxford, MS.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 45% less than in Oxford, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Oxford, MS is 76% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$16.74 $16.74
-29.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$54.7 $54.7
-23.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.90 $9.90
7.47%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$4.96 $4.96
-29.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$1.52 $1.52
-0.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$1.89 $1.89
-48.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$4.53 $4.53
-34.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$6.97 $6.97
-36.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$0.97 $0.97
42.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$3.23 $3.23
-41.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$2.68 $2.68
-38.81%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$3.98 $3.98
-36.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$12.52 $12.52
-33.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$11.98 $11.98
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$15.32 $15.32
-29.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$5.82 $5.82
-55.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.62 $1.62
-9.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$3.50 $3.50
-45.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$4.33 $4.33
-51.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$3.52 $3.52
-49.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.79 $1.79
22.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.80 $1.80
-42.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$1.56 $1.56
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$7.54 $7.54
-45.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$11.92 $11.92
-13.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.70 $1.70
0.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$3.13 $3.13
-17.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$1.97 $1.97
-74.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$4.88 $4.88
-33.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$1.70 $1.70
46.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$17.83 $17.83
-81.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$0.74 $0.74
77.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$20.0K $20.0K
51.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-10.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$139 $139
-40.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$49.69 $49.69
-55.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$68.3 $68.3
-57.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$25.22 $25.22
104.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$9.10 $9.10
-44.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$1,009 $1,009
-80.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$8,224 $8,224
-36.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$43.65 $43.65
-15.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$36.18 $36.18
9.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$89.2 $89.2
-12.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$127 $127
-31.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$1,158 $1,158
-16.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$1,286 $1,286
-63.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,666 $2,666
-38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$2,657 $2,657
-54.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$3,291 $3,291
19.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$3,007 $3,007
116.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oxford, MS
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$2,468 $2,468
-73.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.6
148.26%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Oxford, MS: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,158 in Oxford, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oxford, MS pays 272% 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 $55.0 in Oxford, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $365 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 Oxford, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Oxford, MS?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 82% lower than in Oxford, MS. 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 Oxford, MS?
On paper, Oxford, MS earns 272% 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 Oxford, MS?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,158 in Oxford, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Oxford, MS?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Oxford, MS. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Oxford, MS?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,360 in Oxford, MS – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Oxford, MS?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,360 in Oxford, MS, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Oxford, MS. 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 Oxford, MS?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 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 82% less than in Oxford, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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