Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Silver City, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Silver City, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,635 in Silver City, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,764 in Silver City, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,893 in Silver City, NM, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 52% cheaper than Silver City, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Silver City, NM is 96% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$17.88 $17.88
-35.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$57.9 $57.9
-26.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$12.12 $12.12
-12.54%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$5.20 $5.20
-30.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$2.82 $2.82
-48.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.39 $1.39
-35.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$5.10 $5.10
-40.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$5.90 $5.90
-22.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$0.80 $0.80
81.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$3.30 $3.30
-44.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$5.08 $5.08
-68.31%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$4.27 $4.27
-40.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$10.89 $10.89
-21.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$10.95 $10.95
-22.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$15.26 $15.26
-28.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$4.45 $4.45
-38.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.88 $1.88
-20.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$3.88 $3.88
-50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$4.13 $4.13
-47.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.40 $2.40
-22.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.52 $2.52
-13.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$1.93 $1.93
-44.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.47 $1.47
-26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$8.97 $8.97
-54.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$15.10 $15.10
-30.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$2.14 $2.14
-22.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$3.47 $3.47
-26.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$1.97 $1.97
-71.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$2.74 $2.74
14.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.38 $1.38
71.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$36.55 $36.55
-91.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$0.95 $0.95
37.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$31.4K $31.4K
-2.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$21.6K $21.6K
10.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$273 $273
-69.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$69.6 $69.6
-68.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$68.7 $68.7
-57.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$43.54 $43.54
17.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$13.23 $13.23
-63.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$1,106 $1,106
-82.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$15.5K $15.5K
-66.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$51.3 $51.3
-29.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$38.66 $38.66
1.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$83.8 $83.8
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$103 $103
-14.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,007 $1,007
-4.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$1,359 $1,359
-64.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,752 $1,752
-6.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$2,239 $2,239
-46.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$1,896 $1,896
108.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$1,959 $1,959
232.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Silver City, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,015 $3,015
-75.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.54
74.62%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Silver City, NM: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,007 in Silver City, NM. 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 315% higher in Silver City, NM, 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $58 in Silver City, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $367 – 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 Silver City, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silver City, NM cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Silver City, NM is pricier by about 109%, 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 $3,952 in Silver City, NM. 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. 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 Silver City, NM?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,635 in Silver City, NM. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,106 in Silver City, NM. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Silver City, NM?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Silver City, NM at $2,635. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Silver City, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Silver City, NM 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, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Silver City, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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