Cost of Living Comparison Between Queensbury, NY and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Queensbury, NY and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,628 per month in Queensbury, NY vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,710 per month in Queensbury, NY vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,792 per month in Queensbury, NY vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Queensbury, NY costs about 98% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Queensbury, NY sits 92% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.84 $15.84

$13.02 MX$221

21.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.39 $32.39

$46.25 MX$784

-29.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 $7.71

$12.59 MX$213

-38.76%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$4.00 MX$67.9

36.00%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$1.42 MX$24.08

54.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.81 MX$13.73

90.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$3.05 MX$51.7

156.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$6.82 MX$116

20.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.71 MX$29.04

-47.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.22 MX$37.62

36.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$1.72 MX$29.13

332.56%

Eggs

$5.73 $5.73

$2.71 MX$45.99

111.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.50 $12.50

$9.37 MX$159

33.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$8.86 MX$150

36.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$12.78 MX$217

28.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.13 MX$53.0

69.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.55 MX$26.24

14.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$2.15 MX$36.51

201.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.35 MX$39.89

114.89%

Potato (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$2.02 MX$34.23

169.80%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.99 MX$33.67

87.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.24 MX$21.09

18.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.19 MX$20.21

148.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$4.65 MX$78.8

136.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.99 $23.99

$10.47 MX$177

129.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.58 MX$26.82

12.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.92 MX$49.48

88.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.56 MX$9.53

251.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.32 MX$90.2

-42.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.72 MX$63.0

-43.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 $23.90

$5.78 MX$97.9

313.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.55 MX$26.27

-34.84%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$22.4K MX$379.1K

61.87%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.6K MX$433.3K

0.33%

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

$213 $213

$89.3 MX$1,513

138.71%

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

$77.7 $77.7

$23.30 MX$395

233.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$31.72 MX$538

109.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.11 $41.11

$68.8 MX$1,165

-40.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 $11.05

$5.06 MX$85.7

118.38%

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

$1,970 $1,970

$222 MX$3,765

787.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$4,293 MX$72.7K

440.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.30 $39.30

$46.21 MX$783

-14.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.3 $58.3

$44.43 MX$753

31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 $76.5

$95.5 MX$1,618

-19.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$92.5 MX$1,568

69.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$1,069 MX$18.1K

50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$393 MX$6,663

231.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,545 $2,545

$1,988 MX$33.7K

28.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,103 $2,103

$1,304 MX$22.1K

61.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

$4,037 MX$68.4K

-31.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,385 $2,385

$6,627 MX$112.3K

-64.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

11.6

-46.81%

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

Last update for Queensbury, NY: August 16, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Queensbury, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Queensbury, NY versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $460 in Queensbury, NY vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Queensbury, NY vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Queensbury, NY is pricier by about 98%, 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 $3,942 per month in Queensbury, NY and $1,995 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 $2,628 in Queensbury, NY and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,970 per month in Queensbury, NY and $222 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $1,330, than in Queensbury, NY at $2,628. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Queensbury, NY 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, Queensbury, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.