Cost of Living Comparison Between Reston, VA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Reston, VA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,274 per month in Reston, VA vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,141 per month in Reston, VA vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,008 per month in Reston, VA vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Reston, VA costs about 158% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Reston, VA sits 144% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.33 $24.33

$11.87 MX$204

104.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 $106

$42.90 MX$736

146.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$10.65 MX$183

1.41%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$3.45 MX$59.2

57.68%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$1.50 MX$25.81

99.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$0.95 MX$16.28

168.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.62 $7.62

$3.03 MX$51.9

151.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.61 MX$79.1

69.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.38 MX$23.61

-10.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.85 MX$31.70

98.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$1.61 MX$27.65

329.81%

Eggs

$5.36 $5.36

$2.59 MX$44.51

106.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.40 $19.40

$8.26 MX$142

134.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.20 $20.20

$8.37 MX$144

141.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.85 $24.85

$10.66 MX$183

133.11%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$2.63 MX$45.12

193.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.49 MX$25.53

23.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$1.92 MX$32.94

184.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.09 MX$35.81

180.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.86 MX$31.88

91.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.26 MX$38.81

43.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.06 MX$18.23

145.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.09 MX$18.67

157.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.95 $7.95

$4.15 MX$71.2

91.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.18 $18.18

$10.39 MX$178

74.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.72 MX$29.59

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.61 MX$44.85

42.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.95 $5.95

$0.54 MX$9.30

1001.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$26.94 MX$462

389.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.13 MX$53.7

27.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.51 MX$43.09

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.87 $24.87

$3.15 MX$54.1

689.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.27 MX$21.88

-29.92%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-14.03%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

5.53%

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

$216 $216

$83.0 MX$1,425

160.60%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$22.71 MX$390

130.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$29.46 MX$506

140.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.9 $99.9

$51.0 MX$875

95.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.61 $29.61

$18.33 MX$315

61.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$4.93 MX$84.5

199.59%

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

$1,821 $1,821

$197 MX$3,386

823.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.4K $36.4K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

589.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.70 $46.70

$36.90 MX$633

26.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.01 $49.01

$39.89 MX$685

22.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 $92.6

$80.0 MX$1,373

15.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$89.5 MX$1,536

35.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,964 $1,964

$956 MX$16.4K

105.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$477 MX$8,189

222.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,690 $3,690

$1,646 MX$28.3K

124.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,260 $3,260

$1,225 MX$21.0K

166.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,375 $6,375

$3,918 MX$67.2K

62.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,367 $4,367

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-32.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,245 $6,245

$667 MX$11.4K

836.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.42

-42.64%

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

Last update for Reston, VA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,964 in Reston, VA versus $956 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 836% higher in Reston, VA, 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 $106 in Reston, VA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 vs $250 – 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

Reston, VA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reston, VA is pricier by about 158%, 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 $4,911 per month in Reston, VA and $1,906 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 $3,274 in Reston, VA and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 389% 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 $1,271, than in Reston, VA at $3,274. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reston, VA 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, Reston, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.