Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stillwater, OK

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,059 in Stillwater, OK, rent and utilities included – about $10,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Stillwater, OK, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Stillwater, OK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Stillwater, OK

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 Stillwater, OK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,059 in Stillwater, OK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Stillwater, OK $2,059

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,584 in Stillwater, OK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Stillwater, OK $3,584

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,110 in Stillwater, OK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Stillwater, OK $5,110

Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Stillwater, OK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Stillwater, OK is 52% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$198
$15.04 $15.04
-29.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$813
$40.23 $40.23
8.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$9.64 $9.64
22.30%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.3
$5.11 $5.11
-25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.07
$2.14 $2.14
-39.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.47
$1.54 $1.54
-46.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.4
$4.62 $4.62
-31.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.6
$5.59 $5.59
-11.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.14
$0.92 $0.92
53.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.75
$2.73 $2.73
-19.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.33
$3.60 $3.60
-59.17%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.34
$4.26 $4.26
-41.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$135
$7.31 $7.31
-0.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$9.32 $9.32
-14.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$13.63 $13.63
-5.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.8
$4.56 $4.56
-36.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.67
$2.99 $2.99
-53.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.23
$6.99 $6.99
-64.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.67
$5.43 $5.43
-62.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.58
$3.91 $3.91
-48.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.32
$3.43 $3.43
-44.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.24
$1.89 $1.89
-39.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$22.99
$1.78 $1.78
-30.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.3
$8.96 $8.96
-52.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$182
$11.16 $11.16
-12.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.43
$1.71 $1.71
-7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.0
$4.94 $4.94
-44.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.56
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$508
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.3
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.36
$0.78 $0.78
96.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$393.7K
$26.9K $26.9K
-21.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$431.7K
$25.9K $25.9K
-10.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,549
$165 $165
-49.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$430
$43.79 $43.79
-47.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$512
$63.6 $63.6
-56.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,047
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$523
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$92.8
$11.82 $11.82
-57.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,843
$1,480 $1,480
-86.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.1K
$9,992 $9,992
-47.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$806
$79.1 $79.1
-45.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$789
$38.50 $38.50
10.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,350
$99.1 $99.1
-26.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,640
$100 $100
-11.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$1,050 $1,050
-5.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,097
$999 $999
-61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.1K
$2,959 $2,959
-43.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$2,865 $2,865
-62.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.5K
$1,763 $1,763
121.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$113.9K
$1,769 $1,769
246.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stillwater, OK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.4K
$2,992 $2,992
-72.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.6
73.48%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Stillwater, OK: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Stillwater, OK
$999 161% $617
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Stillwater, OK
$361 40.4% $104
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Stillwater, OK
$260 29.6% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Stillwater, OK
$272 103% $138
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Stillwater, OK
$143 28.3% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Stillwater, OK
$24 * 64.4% $43
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Stillwater, OK
- * 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,050 in Stillwater, OK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Stillwater, OK are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $40 in Stillwater, OK. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Playa del Carmen vs $361 in Stillwater, OK – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Stillwater, OK
🕒 Local time
10:33 10:33 AM
09:33 9:33 AM
1 h behind Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
44,818
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.56 MXN (100 MXN = 5.39 USD). 1 EUR = 20.85 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Stillwater, OK 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Stillwater, OK

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 Stillwater, OK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stillwater, OK?
Yes – Stillwater, OK is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,088 in Stillwater, OK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Stillwater, OK?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $995 in Playa del Carmen and $1,050 in Stillwater, OK. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Stillwater, OK?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $2,059 in Stillwater, OK. That makes Playa del Carmen about 42% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,480 in Stillwater, OK. 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Stillwater, OK?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Stillwater, OK at $2,059. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stillwater, OK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Stillwater, OK 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, Stillwater, OK 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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