Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Severna Park, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,727 in Severna Park, MD, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Severna Park, MD, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Severna Park, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Severna Park, MD

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 Severna Park, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,727 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Severna Park, MD $2,727

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,078 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Severna Park, MD $4,078

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,428 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Severna Park, MD $5,428

Playa del Carmen is about 56% cheaper than Severna Park, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Severna Park, MD is 100% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$24.19 $24.19
-54.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$96.5 $96.5
-55.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$11.16 $11.16
5.56%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$5.71 $5.71
-33.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$3.42 $3.42
-62.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$2.40 $2.40
-67.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$8.07 $8.07
-60.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$9.27 $9.27
-46.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$1.20 $1.20
17.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$4.53 $4.53
-50.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$5.30 $5.30
-73.21%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$5.31 $5.31
-52.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$12.94 $12.94
-43.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$15.93 $15.93
-51.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$19.60 $19.60
-35.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$5.83 $5.83
-52.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$1.81 $1.81
-24.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$5.65 $5.65
-54.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$5.82 $5.82
-63.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$3.33 $3.33
-41.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$2.95 $2.95
-35.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$2.37 $2.37
-51.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$2.57 $2.57
-54.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$13.31 $13.31
-67.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$17.32 $17.32
-42.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
$2.56 $2.56
-38.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
$2.89 $2.89
-7.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$1.75 $1.75
-68.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$59.2 $59.2
-55.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$1.82 $1.82
173.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$1.33 $1.33
150.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$23.88 $23.88
-77.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$1.09 $1.09
32.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$28.6K $28.6K
-27.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
-7.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$165 $165
-48.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$52.7 $52.7
-55.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$61.5 $61.5
-53.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$40.10 $40.10
42.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$75.3 $75.3
-61.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$16.22 $16.22
-68.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$1,838 $1,838
-88.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$34.4K $34.4K
-88.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$51.8 $51.8
-16.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$62.2 $62.2
-33.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$92.7 $92.7
-19.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$112 $112
-20.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$1,535 $1,535
-36.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$1,302 $1,302
-70.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,557 $2,557
-33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,061 $2,061
-47.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$2,811 $2,811
40.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$2,312 $2,312
166.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$5,006 $5,006
-85.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.72
70.39%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Severna Park, MD: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Severna Park, MD
$1.3K 242% $921
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Severna Park, MD
$478 87.6% $223
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Severna Park, MD
$378 86.7% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Severna Park, MD
$279 104% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Severna Park, MD
$143 28.2% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Severna Park, MD
$73 7.8% $5.2
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Severna Park, MD
$75 48.1% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,535 in Severna Park, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Severna Park, MD are about 6.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $96 in Severna Park, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $478 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Severna Park, MD
🕒 Local time
21:16 9:16 PM
22:16 10:16 PM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
37,634
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Severna Park, MD 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Severna Park, MD

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 Severna Park, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Severna Park, MD?
Yes – Severna Park, MD is pricier by about 126%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,091 in Severna Park, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,535 in Severna Park, MD.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Severna Park, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,727 in Severna Park, MD. That makes Playa del Carmen about 56% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 55% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Severna Park, MD?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Severna Park, MD at $2,727. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Severna Park, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Severna Park, MD more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Severna Park, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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