Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Palo Alto, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 49.2% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 74.3% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 62.5% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 68.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$24.92 $24.92
-51.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$111 $111
-61.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.34 $11.34
-7.67%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.74 $5.74
-37.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.24 $3.24
-55.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.54 $2.54
-64.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$8.14 $8.14
-62.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$10.03 $10.03
-54.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.47 $1.47
-6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.99 $4.99
-62.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.19 $3.19
-50.78%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$6.16 $6.16
-58.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$21.55 $21.55
-60.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$14.78 $14.78
-42.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$22.82 $22.82
-51.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$6.95 $6.95
-60.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.56 $2.56
-41.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$4.84 $4.84
-61.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$6.75 $6.75
-67.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.89 $3.89
-51.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$4.37 $4.37
-49.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.9 $2.9
-63.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.86 $2.86
-61.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$11.11 $11.11
-64.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$18.33 $18.33
-51.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.27 $2.27
-24.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.35 $3.35
-22.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.55 $2.55
-79.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$89.6 $89.6
-70.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$4.11 $4.11
-21.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.89 $1.89
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$30.51 $30.51
-89.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.27 $1.27
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$29.7K $29.7K
2.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$26.6K $26.6K
-9.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$225 $225
-62.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$47.97 $47.97
-53.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$68.6 $68.6
-56.06%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$120 $120
-56.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$19.88 $19.88
-5.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.78 $15.78
-67.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$2,710 $2,710
-92.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$45.7K $45.7K
-88.32%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$53.2 $53.2
-32.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$44.76 $44.76
-11.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$89.3 $89.3
-11.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$135 $135
-34.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$3,473 $3,473
-72.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$3,227 $3,227
-85.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$5,889 $5,889
-71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$5,757 $5,757
-79.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,539 $2,539
21.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,123 $2,123
254.68%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$10K $10K
-92.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

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