🙂A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,691 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,723 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,755 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 53% cheaper than Wasilla, AK, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Wasilla, AK is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$25.40$25.40
-54.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$98.7$98.7
-57.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.93$11.93
-12.82%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.46$4.46
-19.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.13$2.13
-30.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.95$1.95
-53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.97$5.97
-49.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$7.37$7.37
-39.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.11$1.11
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$4.11$4.11
-55.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$2.15$2.15
-25.12%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$3.27$3.27
-21.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$12.21$12.21
-30.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.79$10.79
-21.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$17.44$17.44
-36.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$7.87$7.87
-65.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.99$1.99
-24.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$4.21$4.21
-53.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.77$3.77
-43.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.36$2.36
-21.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.80$2.80
-22.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.77$2.77
-61.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.28$2.28
-53.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$11.39$11.39
-63.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$11.84$11.84
-13.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.78$1.78
-6.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.74$3.74
-33.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.98$1.98
-72.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$88.8$88.8
-70.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.83$2.83
9.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.73$1.73
42.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$37.95$37.95
-91.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.00$1.00
26.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$24.0K$24.0K
25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$25.6K$25.6K
-8.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$176$176
-52.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$40.72$40.72
-45.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$122$122
-75.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$42.95$42.95
22.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$11.53$11.53
-57.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$966$966
-79.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$10.4K$10.4K
-49.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$48.85$48.85
-26.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$44.45$44.45
-9.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$77.2$77.2
2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$93.2$93.2
-7.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,601$1,601
-39.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,346$1,346
-65.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,833$1,833
-12.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,627$1,627
-25.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.46
76.78%
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 Wasilla, AK: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,601 in Wasilla, AK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $99 in Wasilla, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $395 – 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 Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wasilla, AK cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Wasilla, AK is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $4,036 in Wasilla, AK. 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 Wasilla, AK?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,691 in Wasilla, AK. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 238% 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 Wasilla, AK?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Wasilla, AK at $2,691. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wasilla, AK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Wasilla, AK 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, Wasilla, AK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared