Cost of Living Comparison Between Severna Park, MD and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Severna Park, MD and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,914 per month in Severna Park, MD vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,285 per month in Severna Park, MD vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,655 per month in Severna Park, MD vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Severna Park, MD costs about 131% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Severna Park, MD sits 119% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.81 $22.81

$11.72 MX$204

94.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$41.89 MX$731

91.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.55 $12.55

$10.51 MX$183

19.41%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$3.59 MX$62.5

48.47%

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

$3.25 $3.25

$1.51 MX$26.31

115.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.92 MX$15.96

136.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.96 MX$51.6

120.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.41 MX$76.9

76.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.40 MX$24.35

-18.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.88 MX$32.87

111.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$1.56 MX$27.19

370.51%

Eggs

$6.57 $6.57

$2.61 MX$45.50

151.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$8.32 MX$145

60.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.42 $20.42

$8.35 MX$146

144.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.10 $20.10

$10.86 MX$189

85.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.99 $6.99

$2.71 MX$47.31

157.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.51 MX$26.25

47.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.03 $8.03

$1.87 MX$32.67

329.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.19 MX$38.19

197.72%

Potato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.86 MX$32.40

156.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.23 MX$38.90

35.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.07 MX$18.63

161.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.09 MX$18.94

194.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.59 $12.59

$4.19 MX$73.0

200.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.17 $17.17

$10.43 MX$182

64.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.66 MX$28.91

6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.61 MX$45.56

47.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.54 MX$9.45

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 $118

$26.16 MX$456

351.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.08 MX$53.7

-40.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$2.40 MX$41.94

-44.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.77 $19.77

$3.13 MX$54.5

531.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.31 MX$22.87

-33.59%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-14.78%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

4.36%

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

$169 $169

$81.3 MX$1,418

107.87%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$22.56 MX$393

138.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$30.05 MX$524

121.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.22 $43.22

$52.9 MX$923

-18.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.24 $25.24

$18.39 MX$321

37.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.39 $15.39

$4.92 MX$85.8

212.80%

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

$1,617 $1,617

$201 MX$3,502

705.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$33.3K $33.3K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

543.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.21 $48.21

$35.92 MX$627

34.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.0 $72.0

$40.13 MX$700

79.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 $85.8

$79.7 MX$1,390

7.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$86.5 MX$1,508

31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 $1,577

$978 MX$17.1K

61.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$470 MX$8,206

190.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,587 $2,587

$1,651 MX$28.8K

56.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,223 $2,223

$1,203 MX$21.0K

84.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,765 $2,765

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-30.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,386 $2,386

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-63.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,042 $5,042

$677 MX$11.8K

645.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

11.42

-42.47%

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

Last update for Severna Park, MD: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,577 in Severna Park, MD versus $978 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 645% higher in Severna Park, MD, 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 Severna Park, MD versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $543 vs $252 – 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

Severna Park, MD vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Severna Park, MD is pricier by about 131%, 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 $4,372 per month in Severna Park, MD and $1,890 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 $2,914 in Severna Park, MD and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 351% 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 $1,260, than in Severna Park, MD at $2,914. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Severna Park, MD 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, Severna Park, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.