Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pikeville, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,692 in Pikeville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Pikeville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Pikeville, TN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Pikeville, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,692 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Pikeville, TN $2,692

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,989 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Pikeville, TN $3,989

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,286 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Pikeville, TN $5,286

Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper than Pikeville, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Pikeville, TN is 99% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$19.86 $19.86
-45.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$74.9 $74.9
-41.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$11.53 $11.53
1.99%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$5.30 $5.30
-30.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$2.72 $2.72
-50.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$2.02 $2.02
-59.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$5.88 $5.88
-47.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$7.40 $7.40
-33.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.04 $1.04
41.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$2.68 $2.68
-17.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$6.92 $6.92
-78.61%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$4.33 $4.33
-42.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$9.57 $9.57
-21.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$14.54 $14.54
-45.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$25.54 $25.54
-50.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$3.40 $3.40
-18.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$2.79 $2.79
-48.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$8.62 $8.62
-69.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$7.51 $7.51
-71.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$2.75 $2.75
-26.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$5.75 $5.75
-65.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.22 $2.22
-48.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$1.95 $1.95
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$9.99 $9.99
-57.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$15.30 $15.30
-34.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$1.96 $1.96
-21.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$3.34 $3.34
-20.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.99 $1.99
-73.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$49.07 $49.07
-43.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$3.04 $3.04
61.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$1.55 $1.55
121.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$30.12 $30.12
-82.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.01 $1.01
43.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$28.1K $28.1K
-24.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-12.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$199 $199
-57.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$58.8 $58.8
-60.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$68.6 $68.6
-58.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$42.15 $42.15
47.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
$30.36 $30.36
-5.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$13.73 $13.73
-62.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$1,330 $1,330
-84.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$20.9K $20.9K
-81.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$53.7 $53.7
-17.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$40.68 $40.68
1.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$89.8 $89.8
-19.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$116 $116
-22.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$1,610 $1,610
-39.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$1,308 $1,308
-71.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$2,490 $2,490
-32.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$2,184 $2,184
-49.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$2,322 $2,322
70.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$2,599 $2,599
136.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pikeville, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.57
74.28%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Pikeville, TN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Pikeville, TN
$1.3K 251% $935
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Pikeville, TN
$465 80% $207
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Pikeville, TN
$320 59.9% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Pikeville, TN
$326 138% $189
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Pikeville, TN
$135 20.9% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Pikeville, TN
$70 3.9% $2.8
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Pikeville, TN
$68 31.2% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,610 in Pikeville, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $75.0 in Pikeville, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $465 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Pikeville, TN
🕒 Local time
06:36 6:36 AM
06:36 6:36 AM
Same time as Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
1,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Pikeville, TN 1,680 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Pikeville, TN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pikeville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Pikeville, TN?
Pikeville, TN costs about 124% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Pikeville, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,038 in Pikeville, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Pikeville, TN?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Pikeville, TN?
Groceries cost about 80% more in Pikeville, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Pikeville, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen and $75.0 in Pikeville, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Pikeville, TN?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Pikeville, TN at $2,692. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pikeville, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Pikeville, TN?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $2,692 in Pikeville, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Pikeville, TN?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Pikeville, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pikeville, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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