😐A single person spends $4,145 per month in Quincy, MA vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,679 per month in Quincy, MA vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,213 per month in Quincy, MA vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Quincy, MA costs about 227% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Quincy, MA sits 203% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.22$30.22
$11.60MX$200
160.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121$121
$47.11MX$811
155.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.18$12.18
$11.88MX$205
2.53%
Cappuccino
$5.10$5.10
$3.98MX$68.5
28.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96$2.96
$1.43MX$24.58
106.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$0.82MX$14.20
210.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.96$6.96
$3.19MX$54.9
118.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.76$7.76
$6.79MX$117
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26$1.26
$1.68MX$28.86
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.01$4.01
$2.20MX$37.84
82.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.53$5.53
$1.71MX$29.42
223.39%
Eggs
$4.94$4.94
$2.74MX$47.21
80.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.12$11.12
$9.58MX$165
16.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.06$14.06
$9.01MX$155
56.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.68$17.68
$12.81MX$221
38.02%
Apples(1kg)
$6.75$6.75
$2.89MX$49.75
133.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89$1.89
$1.50MX$25.79
26.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$2.15MX$37.00
203.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.48$6.48
$2.26MX$38.92
186.73%
Potato(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$1.98MX$34.11
72.73%
Onion(1kg)
$4.15$4.15
$1.99MX$34.27
108.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.93$2.93
$1.23MX$21.26
138.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60$1.60
$1.20MX$20.61
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.70$12.70
$4.55MX$78.4
179.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.88$13.88
$10.37MX$179
33.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$1.62MX$27.88
34.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11$4.11
$2.88MX$49.61
42.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.50$2.50
$0.60MX$10.34
316.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108$108
$28.80MX$496
276.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53$2.53
$5.39MX$92.8
-53.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79$1.79
$3.73MX$64.2
-52.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.67$24.67
$5.77MX$99.4
327.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$1.54MX$26.46
-30.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K$36.2K
$22.5KMX$388.4K
60.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$26.1KMX$448.8K
-1.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258$258
$91.4MX$1,574
182.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$25.20MX$434
113.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.3$83.3
$31.24MX$538
166.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.0$80.0
$67.2MX$1,158
18.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.4$50.4
$29.11MX$501
73.07%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21$15.21
$4.86MX$83.8
212.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,869$1,869
$224MX$3,852
735.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,805$9,805
$4,229MX$72.8K
131.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8$64.8
$47.10MX$811
37.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.31$39.31
$44.29MX$763
-11.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0$99.0
$80.1MX$1,380
23.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9$98.9
$92.7MX$1,596
6.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,144$3,144
$1,063MX$18.3K
195.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,491$2,491
$390MX$6,721
538.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,565$4,565
$2,149MX$37.0K
112.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,508$3,508
$1,272MX$21.9K
175.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,250$3,250
$4,001MX$68.9K
-18.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,238$1,238
$6,502MX$112.0K
-80.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quincy, MA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,277$6,277
$758MX$13.1K
727.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.28
11.45
-45.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quincy, MA: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,144 in Quincy, MA versus $1,063 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 728% higher in Quincy, MA, 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 $121 in Quincy, MA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $276 – 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
Quincy, MA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Quincy, MA?
Yes – Quincy, MA is pricier by about 227%, 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 $6,217 per month in Quincy, MA and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Quincy, MA and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,145 in Quincy, MA and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. 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 276% 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 Quincy, MA or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Quincy, MA at $4,145. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quincy, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quincy, MA or Playa del Carmen 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 safer, Quincy, MA or Playa del Carmen?
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.
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, Quincy, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Quincy, MA vs other spots: cost of living compared