Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Taunton Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Taunton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,083 in Taunton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,331 in Taunton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,578 in Taunton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Taunton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Taunton is 55% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$16.16 ยฃ11.97
-28.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$85.3 ยฃ63.2
-49.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$8.64 ยฃ6.40
22.69%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$3.91 ยฃ2.90
-8.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$1.76 ยฃ1.30
-17.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.42 ยฃ1.06
-36.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$4.58 ยฃ3.39
-33.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$5.49 ยฃ4.07
-16.94%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.54 ยฃ1.14
-5.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$1.67 ยฃ1.24
9.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$2.71 ยฃ2.01
-40.59%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$4.97 ยฃ3.68
-48.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$10.01 ยฃ7.41
-14.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$8.84 ยฃ6.55
-4.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$14.55 ยฃ10.78
-25.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$1.95 ยฃ1.44
40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.08 ยฃ0.80
37.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$3.65 ยฃ2.70
-46.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$3.44 ยฃ2.55
-37.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$1.18 ยฃ0.87
56.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$1.33 ยฃ0.99
64.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$1.53 ยฃ1.13
-30.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.61 ยฃ1.20
-32.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$24.21 ยฃ17.94
-83.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$9.50 ยฃ7.04
10.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$2.21 ยฃ1.64
-25.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$4.02 ยฃ2.98
-36.57%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$3.43 ยฃ2.54
-83.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$89.1 ยฃ66.0
-70.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$3.05 ยฃ2.26
2.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.71 ยฃ1.27
38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$23.38 ยฃ17.33
-86.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.89 ยฃ1.40
-30.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$38.3K ยฃ28.4K
-20.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$39.6K ยฃ29.4K
-39.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$352 ยฃ261
-76.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$15.32 ยฃ11.35
44.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$43.06 ยฃ31.91
-31.79%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$60.1 ยฃ44.55
-14.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$13.04 ยฃ9.66
-62.50%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$2,742 ยฃ2,032
-92.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$8,131 ยฃ6,025
-35.96%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$54.8 ยฃ40.64
-34.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$52.5 ยฃ38.92
-25.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$93.2 ยฃ69.1
-13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$84.6 ยฃ62.7
3.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,080 ยฃ800
-10.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$817 ยฃ605
-40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$2,060 ยฃ1,526
-20.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$1,858 ยฃ1,377
-35.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
-
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Taunton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,396 ยฃ2,516
-78.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.9
93.56%

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 Taunton: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,080 in Taunton. 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 368% higher in Taunton, 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 $85 in Taunton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $298 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 Taunton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taunton cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ€“ Taunton is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,125 in Taunton. 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 Taunton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,083 in Taunton. 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 240% 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 Taunton?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Taunton at $2,083. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taunton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Taunton 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 Taunton?
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, Taunton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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