Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and University Place, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and University Place, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,695 in University Place, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,006 in University Place, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,317 in University Place, WA, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 53% cheaper than University Place, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while University Place, WA is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$16.21 $16.21

-28.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$120 $120

-65.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$12.56 $12.56

-17.20%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$5.98 $5.98

-39.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.45

$2.97 $2.97

-50.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$2.37 $2.37

-61.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$9.02 $9.02

-66.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$11.88 $11.88

-62.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.12 $1.12

23.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$4.24 $4.24

-56.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$2.73 $2.73

-41.03%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$4.98 $4.98

-48.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$11.56 $11.56

-26.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$16.21 $16.21

-47.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$19.13 $19.13

-42.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$5.20 $5.20

-47.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.70 $1.70

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$5.00 $5.00

-60.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$3.71 $3.71

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$3.29 $3.29

-43.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$2.74 $2.74

-20.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$1.98 $1.98

-45.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$3.00 $3.00

-65.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$11.04 $11.04

-62.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$18.24 $18.24

-43.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$1.71 $1.71

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$3.59 $3.59

-30.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.95 $1.95

-72.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$2.65 $2.65

16.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$2.00 $2.00

23.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$30.03 $30.03

-89.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$1.19 $1.19

5.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$30.4K $30.4K

-0.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

-8.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 MX$1,456

$159 $159

-47.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 MX$385

$53.1 $53.1

-58.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$86.5 $86.5

-65.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$42.45 $42.45

24.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$18.09 $18.09

-72.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,438

$2,086 $2,086

-90.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$29.4K $29.4K

-81.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$58.5 $58.5

-38.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$38.21 $38.21

4.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$96.9 $96.9

-18.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$113 $113

-23.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$1,613 $1,613

-39.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$1,337 $1,337

-64.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$2,657 $2,657

-39.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$2,240 $2,240

-45.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$2,593 $2,593

55.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$2,641 $2,641

149.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$8,094 $8,094

-91.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.51

75.42%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,613 in University Place, WA. 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 1033% higher in University Place, WA, 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 $120 in University Place, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $444 – 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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – University Place, WA is pricier by about 114%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,043 in University Place, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,695 in University Place, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,086 in University Place, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in University Place, WA at $2,695. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in University Place, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, University Place, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.