๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,970 in Sequim, WA, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,409 in Sequim, WA, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,847 in Sequim, WA, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper than Sequim, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Sequim, WA is 121% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$22.17$22.17
-47.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$74.9$74.9
-42.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$12.61$12.61
-15.94%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.85$4.85
-25.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.13$2.13
-31.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.72$1.72
-47.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.27$5.27
-42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$6.11$6.11
-25.37%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.03$1.03
40.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$4.37$4.37
-58.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.80$2.80
-42.50%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$5.18$5.18
-50.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$15.09$15.09
-43.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$15.22$15.22
-44.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$26.71$26.71
-59.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$5.05$5.05
-45.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.06$2.06
-27.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$4.87$4.87
-60.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.73$3.73
-42.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.11$1.11
66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.27$2.27
-3.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$2.01$2.01
-46.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$2.12$2.12
-49.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$13.70$13.70
-70.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$12.18$12.18
-14.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.10$2.10
-21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$2.73$2.73
-6.59%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$1.47$1.47
-61.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$40.44$40.44
-35.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$3.55$3.55
-11.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.61$1.61
47.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$28.93$28.93
-88.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.15$1.15
13.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$29.8K$29.8K
2.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$26.0K$26.0K
-8.49%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$156$156
-46.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$50.1$50.1
-55.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$69.7$69.7
-57.85%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$42.26$42.26
21.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$16.66$16.66
-70.65%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$2,117$2,117
-90.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$30.2K$30.2K
-82.73%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$38.73$38.73
-7.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$38.10$38.10
3.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$96.1$96.1
-16.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$113$113
-22.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,947$1,947
-50.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$1,658$1,658
-70.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$3,150$3,150
-47.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$2,853$2,853
-58.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$2,722$2,722
45.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,345$2,345
177.74%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sequim, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,893$2,893
-74.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.61
72.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Sequim, WA: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,947 in Sequim, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 298% higher in Sequim, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $75 in Sequim, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $445 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Sequim, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sequim, WA cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Sequim, WA is pricier by about 135%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,456 in Sequim, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Sequim, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,970 in Sequim, WA. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 54% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sequim, WA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Sequim, WA at $2,970. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sequim, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sequim, WA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Sequim, WA?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sequim, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared