Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Wasilla, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,896 in Wasilla, AK, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Wasilla, AK, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Wasilla, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,896
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Wasilla, AK

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 Wasilla, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,896 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Wasilla, AK $2,896

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,119 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Wasilla, AK $4,119

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,343 in Wasilla, AK, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Wasilla, AK $5,343

Playa del Carmen is about 58% cheaper than Wasilla, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Wasilla, AK is 113% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$24.52 $24.52
-55.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$101 $101
-57.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$12.03 $12.03
-2.08%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$3.92 $3.92
-2.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$2.01 $2.01
-36.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$2.04 $2.04
-61.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$5.62 $5.62
-43.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$7.77 $7.77
-36.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.23 $1.23
14.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$3.10 $3.10
-28.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$6.31 $6.31
-77.50%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$3.27 $3.27
-22.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$13.75 $13.75
-47.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$10.21 $10.21
-24.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$15.66 $15.66
-18.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$8.02 $8.02
-65.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$2.21 $2.21
-38.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$3.83 $3.83
-33.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$4.32 $4.32
-50.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$2.58 $2.58
-24.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$3.19 $3.19
-40.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$2.74 $2.74
-58.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$2.25 $2.25
-47.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$12.85 $12.85
-66.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$17.92 $17.92
-44.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.70 $1.70
-7.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$3.45 $3.45
-22.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$1.96 $1.96
-71.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$61.1 $61.1
-56.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$2.76 $2.76
80.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$1.69 $1.69
97.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$38.01 $38.01
-85.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.00 $1.00
44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
-17.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$24.8K $24.8K
-5.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$273 $273
-68.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$47.81 $47.81
-51.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$137 $137
-79.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$86.6 $86.6
-34.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$34.76 $34.76
-16.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$8.32 $8.32
-38.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$1,266 $1,266
-83.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$10.5K $10.5K
-62.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$48.84 $48.84
-11.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$46.39 $46.39
-10.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$79.7 $79.7
-6.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$90.7 $90.7
-1.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$1,412 $1,412
-30.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$1,381 $1,381
-72.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,039 $2,039
-16.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,022 $2,022
-46.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Wasilla, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.49
76.43%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Wasilla, AK: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Wasilla, AK
$1.4K 263% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Wasilla, AK
$415 62.7% $160
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Wasilla, AK
$339 67.6% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Wasilla, AK
$458 235% $321
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Wasilla, AK
$120 7% $7.8
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Wasilla, AK
$103 53.3% $36
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Wasilla, AK
$80 58.8% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,412 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $101 in Wasilla, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $415 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Wasilla, AK
🕒 Local time
11:03 11:03 AM
08:03 8:03 AM
3 h behind Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
9,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Wasilla, AK 6,550 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Wasilla, AK

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 Wasilla, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Wasilla, AK?
Yes – Wasilla, AK is pricier by about 140%, 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 $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,344 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,412 in Wasilla, AK.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Wasilla, AK?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,896 in Wasilla, AK. That’s a gap of about 140%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 56% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Wasilla, AK?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Wasilla, AK at $2,896. 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 140% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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