Cost of Living Comparison Between Russellville, AR and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Russellville, AR and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,472 per month in Russellville, AR vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,777 per month in Russellville, AR vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Russellville, AR vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Russellville, AR costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Russellville, AR sits 84% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.09 $17.09

$11.87 MX$207

43.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.56 $35.56

$42.90 MX$747

-17.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 $10.00

$10.65 MX$186

-6.10%

Cappuccino

$1.95 $1.95

$3.45 MX$60.1

-43.48%

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

$1.65 $1.65

$1.50 MX$26.19

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.95 MX$16.52

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.03 MX$52.7

64.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 $6.68

$4.61 MX$80.3

44.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.38 MX$23.96

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.85 MX$32.18

11.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.61 MX$28.06

4.35%

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$2.59 MX$45.18

44.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 $10.88

$8.26 MX$144

31.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 $11.34

$8.37 MX$146

35.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.03 $15.03

$10.66 MX$186

40.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$2.63 MX$45.80

58.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.49 MX$25.92

-6.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.92 MX$33.44

81.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.09 MX$36.34

98.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.86 MX$32.35

42.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.26 MX$39.39

39.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.06 MX$18.51

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.09 MX$18.95

36.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.18 $9.18

$4.15 MX$72.3

121.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.39 MX$181

17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.72 MX$30.03

2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.61 MX$45.52

43.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.54 MX$9.44

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.13 MX$54.5

-37.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$2.51 MX$43.73

-46.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.54 $30.54

$3.15 MX$54.9

869.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.27 MX$22.21

-40.94%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$30.4K MX$529.1K

-22.32%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.6K MX$410.5K

-5.60%

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

$210 $210

$83.0 MX$1,446

153.01%

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

$55.9 $55.9

$22.71 MX$396

146.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$29.46 MX$513

116.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 $43.48

$51.0 MX$888

-14.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$319

Cinema Ticket

$10.68 $10.68

$4.93 MX$85.8

116.63%

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

$1,069 $1,069

$197 MX$3,437

441.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K $25.7K

$5,280 MX$92.0K

387.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.46 $47.46

$36.90 MX$643

28.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.43 $29.43

$39.89 MX$695

-26.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 $94.3

$80.0 MX$1,394

17.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.7 $98.7

$89.5 MX$1,559

10.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$713 $713

$956 MX$16.7K

-25.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$477 MX$8,311

178.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 $1,025

$1,646 MX$28.7K

-37.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$870 $870

$1,225 MX$21.3K

-28.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$112.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 $2,845

$667 MX$11.6K

326.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

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

Last update for Russellville, AR: June 9, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $713 in Russellville, AR 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 327% higher in Russellville, AR, 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 $36.00 in Russellville, AR versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $331 in Russellville, AR vs $250 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

Russellville, AR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Russellville, AR is pricier by about 94%, 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 $3,707 per month in Russellville, AR 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 $2,472 in Russellville, AR and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,069 per month in Russellville, AR and $197 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 $1,271, than in Russellville, AR at $2,472. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Russellville, AR 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, Russellville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.