Cost of Living Comparison Between Providence, RI and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Providence, RI and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,394 per month in Providence, RI vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,612 per month in Providence, RI vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,830 per month in Providence, RI vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Providence, RI costs about 162% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Providence, RI sits 147% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.93 $17.93

$11.71 MX$199

53.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.8 $95.8

$46.59 MX$791

105.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.25 $13.25

$11.65 MX$198

13.73%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.09 MX$69.5

37.65%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$1.37 MX$23.34

115.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.83 MX$14.16

143.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.35 MX$56.9

45.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 $7.98

$6.91 MX$117

15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.73 MX$29.33

-39.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.26 MX$38.39

41.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$1.77 MX$30.05

193.22%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$2.73 MX$46.41

73.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$9.18 MX$156

22.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.48 $14.48

$8.92 MX$151

62.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.91 $17.91

$12.60 MX$214

42.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.02 MX$51.3

55.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.57 MX$26.68

-12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$2.13 MX$36.10

165.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.26 MX$38.46

106.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.00 MX$34.04

65.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.06 MX$35.06

71.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.18 MX$20.04

86.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.20 MX$20.45

71.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.36 $13.36

$4.63 MX$78.7

188.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.67 $13.67

$10.69 MX$182

27.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.62 MX$27.50

23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.88 MX$48.93

47.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.57 MX$9.74

259.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.5 $69.5

$29.83 MX$507

132.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.45 MX$92.5

-9.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$3.70 MX$62.9

-61.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.32 $30.32

$5.98 MX$102

407.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.55 MX$26.38

-33.55%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

63.38%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

-0.06%

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

$315 $315

$89.1 MX$1,514

252.90%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$25.04 MX$425

177.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.4 $86.4

$31.50 MX$535

174.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 $55.5

$67.8 MX$1,151

-18.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.3 $60.3

$28.92 MX$491

108.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$5.05 MX$85.8

194.46%

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

$1,469 $1,469

$225 MX$3,820

553.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K $17.1K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

304.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$47.44 MX$806

13.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.88 $38.88

$44.98 MX$764

-13.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$82.0 MX$1,392

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$92.1 MX$1,564

10.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,422 $2,422

$1,069 MX$18.2K

126.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$405 MX$6,884

370.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,124 $3,124

$1,935 MX$32.9K

61.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,543 $2,543

$1,301 MX$22.1K

95.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,383 $3,383

$3,995 MX$67.9K

-15.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,363 $3,363

$6,626 MX$112.5K

-49.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,658 $3,658

$749 MX$12.7K

388.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

11.45

-47.25%

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

Last update for Providence, RI: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,422 in Providence, RI versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. 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 389% higher in Providence, RI, 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 $96.0 in Providence, RI versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $277 – 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

Providence, RI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Providence, RI is pricier by about 162%, 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 $5,092 per month in Providence, RI and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $3,394 in Providence, RI and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 133% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Providence, RI at $3,394. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Providence, RI 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.

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