Cost of Living Comparison Between Redlands, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Redlands, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,432 per month in Redlands, CA vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,758 per month in Redlands, CA vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,084 per month in Redlands, CA vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Redlands, CA costs about 165% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Redlands, CA sits 150% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.56 $18.56

$11.71 MX$199

58.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.4 $69.4

$46.59 MX$791

48.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.18 $14.18

$11.65 MX$198

21.72%

Cappuccino

$5.89 $5.89

$4.09 MX$69.5

44.01%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$1.37 MX$23.34

83.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.83 MX$14.16

166.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$3.35 MX$56.9

133.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.89 $9.89

$6.91 MX$117

43.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.73 MX$29.33

-41.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.26 MX$38.39

78.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.77 MX$30.05

85.31%

Eggs

$3.03 $3.03

$2.73 MX$46.41

10.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$9.18 MX$156

32.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$8.92 MX$151

22.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$12.60 MX$214

-28.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.02 MX$51.3

78.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.57 MX$26.68

50.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.13 MX$36.10

138.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.26 MX$38.46

74.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.00 MX$34.04

54.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.06 MX$35.06

34.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.18 MX$20.04

72.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.20 MX$20.45

106.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.58 $10.58

$4.63 MX$78.7

128.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 $12.28

$10.69 MX$182

14.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.62 MX$27.50

83.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.88 MX$48.93

-1.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.57 MX$9.74

245.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.77 $34.77

$29.83 MX$507

16.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 $3.12

$5.45 MX$92.5

-42.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.70 MX$62.9

-50.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.97 $31.97

$5.98 MX$102

434.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.55 MX$26.38

-16.13%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

65.52%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

4.55%

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

$270 $270

$89.1 MX$1,514

202.40%

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

$75.5 $75.5

$25.04 MX$425

201.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.9 $77.9

$31.50 MX$535

147.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.45 $25.45

$67.8 MX$1,151

-62.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$17.28 $17.28

$5.05 MX$85.8

242.18%

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

$1,177 $1,177

$225 MX$3,820

423.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.2K $32.2K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

663.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.30 $49.30

$47.44 MX$806

3.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

$44.98 MX$764

11.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$82.0 MX$1,392

4.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$194 $194

$92.1 MX$1,564

110.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,929 $1,929

$1,069 MX$18.2K

80.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 $2,010

$405 MX$6,884

395.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,544 $3,544

$1,935 MX$32.9K

83.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,113 $3,113

$1,301 MX$22.1K

139.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,997 $3,997

$3,995 MX$67.9K

0.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,277 $4,277

$6,626 MX$112.5K

-35.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,882 $4,882

$749 MX$12.7K

552.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

11.45

-43.93%

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

Last update for Redlands, CA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,929 in Redlands, CA 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 552% higher in Redlands, CA, 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 $69.0 in Redlands, CA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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

Redlands, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Redlands, CA is pricier by about 165%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,149 per month in Redlands, CA 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 $3,432 in Redlands, CA 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 17% 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 Redlands, CA at $3,432. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Redlands, CA 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, Redlands, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.