Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Russellville, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Russellville, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,457 in Russellville, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,816 in Russellville, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,175 in Russellville, AR, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 49% cheaper than Russellville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Russellville, AR is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$16.69 $16.69

-29.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$36.18 $36.18

15.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$9.71 $9.71

8.24%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.02 $2.02

77.72%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$1.65 $1.65

-8.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$1.80 $1.80

-48.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$5.08 $5.08

-41.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$6.42 $6.42

-31.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$1.14 $1.14

22.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$2.15 $2.15

-12.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.71 $1.71

-8.77%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$3.65 $3.65

-28.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$10.75 $10.75

-22.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$11.55 $11.55

-27.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$14.99 $14.99

-27.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$4.17 $4.17

-35.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$1.33 $1.33

13.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$3.43 $3.43

-45.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$4.21 $4.21

-47.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$2.66 $2.66

-30.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$3.26 $3.26

-31.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$1.57 $1.57

-31.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.56 $1.56

-30.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$8.92 $8.92

-53.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$13.63 $13.63

-23.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$1.75 $1.75

-5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$3.65 $3.65

-28.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.95 $1.95

-72.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$1.98 $1.98

55.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$1.35 $1.35

77.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$30.40 $30.40

-89.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.74 $0.74

77.03%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$23.2K $23.2K

28.21%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$22.7K $22.7K

2.71%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$211 $211

-61.45%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$55.7 $55.7

-59.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$63.3 $63.3

-52.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$43.72 $43.72

21.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$10.37 $10.37

-52.56%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$1,078 $1,078

-81.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

-79.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$48.80 $48.80

-26.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$30.40 $30.40

32.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$93.2 $93.2

-14.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$102 $102

-14.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$732 $732

33.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$1,350 $1,350

-65.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$1,003 $1,003

64.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$873 $873

37.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$2,885 $2,885

-76.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

90.33%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Russellville, AR: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $732 in Russellville, AR. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 326% higher in Russellville, AR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.00 in Russellville, AR. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $336 in Russellville, AR – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Russellville, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Russellville, AR is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,685 in Russellville, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $2,457 in Russellville, AR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,078 in Russellville, AR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Russellville, AR at $2,457. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Russellville, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Russellville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.