Cost of Living Comparison Between Round Rock, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Round Rock, TX and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,282 per month in Round Rock, TX vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,418 per month in Round Rock, TX vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,555 per month in Round Rock, TX vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Round Rock, TX costs about 80% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Round Rock, TX sits 67% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.87 $19.87
$11.60 MX$200
71.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$47.11 MX$812
70.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.87 $11.87
$11.88 MX$205
-0.08%
Cappuccino
$6.03 $6.03
$3.98 MX$68.6
51.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.43 MX$24.60
103.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.82 MX$14.22
190.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 $8.12
$3.19 MX$55.0
154.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.96 $8.96
$6.79 MX$117
31.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.68 MX$28.89
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.20 MX$37.88
71.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.71 MX$29.45
94.15%
Eggs
$3.78 $3.78
$2.74 MX$47.26
37.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.05 $13.05
$9.58 MX$165
36.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.77 $13.77
$9.01 MX$155
52.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$12.81 MX$221
32.71%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$2.89 MX$49.81
47.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.50 MX$25.81
6.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$2.15 MX$37.03
117.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.26 MX$38.96
105.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.98 MX$34.15
28.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.99 MX$34.30
31.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.23 MX$21.28
55.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.20 MX$20.63
84.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.33 $9.33
$4.55 MX$78.5
105.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$10.37 MX$179
42.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.62 MX$27.91
24.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.88 MX$49.67
13.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$497
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 $2.83
$5.39 MX$92.9
-47.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$3.73 MX$64.3
-57.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.27 $24.27
$5.77 MX$99.5
320.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.54 MX$26.48
-38.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K $36.1K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
59.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-1.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$91.4 MX$1,576
145.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.9 $55.9
$25.20 MX$435
121.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$31.24 MX$539
120.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.86 $48.86
$67.2 MX$1,159
-27.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$4.86 MX$83.8
190.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$224 MX$3,856
571.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K $21.6K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
410.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 $59.9
$47.10 MX$812
27.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.60 $43.60
$44.29 MX$764
-1.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$80.1 MX$1,381
6.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$92.7 MX$1,598
10.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 $1,208
$1,063 MX$18.3K
13.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 $999
$390 MX$6,728
156.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 $1,834
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,664 $1,664
$1,272 MX$21.9K
30.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,743 $2,743
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-31.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,809 $2,809
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-56.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Round Rock, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,707 $4,707
$758 MX$13.1K
520.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
11.45
-43.49%

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

Last update for Round Rock, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Round Rock, TX 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 521% higher in Round Rock, TX, 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 $80.0 in Round Rock, TX versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 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
Round Rock, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Round Rock, TX?
Yes – Round Rock, TX is pricier by about 80%, 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 $3,422 per month in Round Rock, TX 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 Round Rock, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,282 in Round Rock, TX 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 kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,501 per month in Round Rock, TX and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Round Rock, TX 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 Round Rock, TX at $2,282. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Round Rock, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Round Rock, TX 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 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, Round Rock, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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