Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Palm Desert, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Palm Desert, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 28.1% cheaper than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 60.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 31.2% cheaper than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 47.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$222
$18.31 $18.31
-35.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.52 MX$785
$81.3 $81.3
-48.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 MX$200
$11.59 $11.59
-8.80%
Cappuccino
$3.49 MX$65.9
$5.06 $5.06
-31.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$27.33
$3.53 $3.53
-58.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$18.33
$2.3 $2.3
-57.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$57.2
$7.38 $7.38
-58.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 MX$86.8
$7.9 $7.9
-41.90%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$26.87
$1.16 $1.16
22.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 MX$35.43
$4.17 $4.17
-55.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MX$29.2
$4.82 $4.82
-68.05%
Eggs
$2.6 MX$49.21
$3.7 $3.7
-29.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$157
$11.23 $11.23
-25.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$16.07 $16.07
-46.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 MX$202
$15.36 $15.36
-30.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 MX$50.2
$4.52 $4.52
-41.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.5
$1.54 $1.54
-1.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.9 MX$35.87
$4.89 $4.89
-61.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.45
$5.73 $5.73
-61.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$33.7
$3.13 $3.13
-43.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$41.05
$2.88 $2.88
-24.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.14
$2.04 $2.04
-47.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.53
$2.18 $2.18
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 MX$78.8
$11.15 $11.15
-62.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.75 MX$165
$13.28 $13.28
-34.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$31.91
$1.97 $1.97
-14.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$47.74
$3.59 $3.59
-29.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.59
$2.06 $2.06
-75.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$510
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$61.4
$6.65 $6.65
-51.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$47.01
$2.07 $2.07
20.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 MX$60.8
$29.32 $29.32
-89.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$23.87
$1.09 $1.09
15.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$564.1K
$25.2K $25.2K
18.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$442.5K
$29.4K $29.4K
-20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$158 $158
-46.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.8 MX$431
$54.5 $54.5
-58.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.04 MX$568
$58.4 $58.4
-48.59%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 MX$972
$42.46 $42.46
21.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 MX$346
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$94.1
$12.81 $12.81
-61.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,719
$1,490 $1,490
-86.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,254 MX$99.3K
$23.1K $23.1K
-77.23%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.81 MX$677
$47.08 $47.08
-23.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43 MX$745
$30.17 $30.17
30.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 MX$1,529
$59.4 $59.4
36.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 MX$1,631
$61 $61
41.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 MX$18.3K
$2,476 $2,476
-60.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$9,037
$2,009 $2,009
-76.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 MX$30.8K
$3,171 $3,171
-48.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 MX$22.6K
$3,049 $3,049
-60.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,137 MX$59.3K
$2,798 $2,798
12.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,586 MX$143.4K
$2,455 $2,455
208.97%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Palm Desert, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$805 MX$15.2K
$5,223 $5,223
-84.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.64
71.99%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2025

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: November 4, 2025

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