Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Waterloo, IA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 13.8% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 32.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 38% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$18.28 $18.28
-34.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$66.4 $66.4
-36.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$9.89 $9.89
5.86%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.24 $5.24
-31.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.78 $2.78
-48.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.39 $2.39
-62.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$6.13 $6.13
-49.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$6.83 $6.83
-32.94%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.01 $1.01
36.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$1.94 $1.94
-4.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$1.72 $1.72
-8.72%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$2.86 $2.86
-10.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$9.28 $9.28
-7.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$6.7 $6.7
27.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$12.74 $12.74
-13.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$3.85 $3.85
-29.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.2 $1.2
25.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$3.32 $3.32
-43.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.46 $4.46
-50.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$1.12 $1.12
66.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.12 $2.12
3.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.85 $1.85
-42.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.53 $1.53
-28.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$7.92 $7.92
-50.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$12.01 $12.01
-26.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.69 $1.69
1.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$1.79 $1.79
45.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.97 $1.97
-73.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$4.89 $4.89
-33.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.43 $1.43
66.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$29.73 $29.73
-89.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.77 $0.77
70.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$35.3K $35.3K
-14.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$25.9K $25.9K
-7.49%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$197 $197
-57.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$48.84 $48.84
-54.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$59.4 $59.4
-49.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$42.83 $42.83
21.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$13.8 $13.8
-63.26%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,454 $1,454
-86.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$30.5K $30.5K
-82.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$38.76 $38.76
-7.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$42.15 $42.15
-5.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$58.6 $58.6
34.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$129 $129
-31.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$842 $842
14.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$747 $747
-36.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$1,974 $1,974
-16.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$863 $863
39.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$1,457 $1,457
111.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$1,429 $1,429
426.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$3,529 $3,529
-77.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.43
77.60%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

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