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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,928 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,338 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,747 in Severna Park, MD, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 57% cheaper than Severna Park, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Severna Park, MD is 119% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$22.27 $22.27
-47.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$78.6 $78.6
-46.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$12.40 $12.40
-16.13%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$5.51 $5.51
-34.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$3.30 $3.30
-55.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$2.21 $2.21
-58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$6.49 $6.49
-53.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$7.81 $7.81
-42.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$1.15 $1.15
20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$3.79 $3.79
-51.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$7.05 $7.05
-77.16%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$6.40 $6.40
-59.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$13.69 $13.69
-37.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$20.15 $20.15
-57.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$19.80 $19.80
-44.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$6.75 $6.75
-59.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$2.20 $2.20
-31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$8.06 $8.06
-75.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$6.59 $6.59
-67.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$4.68 $4.68
-60.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$3.02 $3.02
-28.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$2.85 $2.85
-62.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$3.22 $3.22
-67.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$12.38 $12.38
-66.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$16.68 $16.68
-38.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$1.75 $1.75
-4.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$3.69 $3.69
-32.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.97 $1.97
-72.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
$119 $119
-77.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$1.82 $1.82
70.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.39 $1.39
76.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$19.64 $19.64
-83.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$0.84 $0.84
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$25.4K $25.4K
18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$24.2K $24.2K
-3.00%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$171 $171
-50.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$53.2 $53.2
-58.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$68.0 $68.0
-56.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$42.89 $42.89
22.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
$24.52 $24.52
-25.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$15.48 $15.48
-68.02%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$1,588 $1,588
-87.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$33.7K $33.7K
-84.22%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$48.27 $48.27
-25.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$73.3 $73.3
-45.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$87.0 $87.0
-9.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$109 $109
-20.86%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$1,572 $1,572
-37.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$1,352 $1,352
-65.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$2,617 $2,617
-39.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$2,202 $2,202
-44.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$2,714 $2,714
48.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$2,356 $2,356
179.30%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Severna Park, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
$5,024 $5,024
-85.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.57
73.82%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Severna Park, MD: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,572 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 run about 604% higher in Severna Park, MD, 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $79 in Severna Park, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $536 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 Severna Park, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Severna Park, MD cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ€“ Severna Park, MD is pricier by about 132%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,393 in Severna Park, MD. 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 Severna Park, MD?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,928 in Severna Park, MD. 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 352% 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 Severna Park, MD?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Severna Park, MD at $2,928. 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 โ€“ 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, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Severna Park, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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