Cost of Living Comparison Between Shelby, NC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shelby, NC and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shelby, NC is 20.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 50.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shelby, NC is 19.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.07 $14.07
$11.99 MX$227
17.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.14 $35.14
$42.47 MX$803
-17.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 $9.43
$10.47 MX$198
-9.93%
Cappuccino
$3.67 $3.67
$3.6 MX$68.2
1.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.44 MX$27.16
2.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.89 MX$16.79
38.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.09 MX$58.5
-21.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$4.58 MX$86.6
-35.59%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.38 MX$26.04
-42.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.85 MX$34.9
44.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.57 MX$29.68
131.85%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$2.55 MX$48.3
69.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.27 $9.27
$8.61 MX$163
7.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$8.54 MX$161
49.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.4 $22.4
$10.98 MX$208
104.01%
Apples (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$2.72 MX$51.4
92.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.51 MX$28.57
15.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$1.88 MX$35.63
173.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.19 MX$41.42
43.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$1.87 MX$35.3
76.47%
Onion (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.19 MX$41.37
108.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.07 MX$20.23
88.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.09 MX$20.64
71.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.56 $8.56
$3.96 MX$74.9
116.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.28 $9.28
$8.86 MX$167
4.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.72 MX$32.53
15.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.61 MX$49.37
5.75%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.52 MX$9.74
276.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 $2.05
$3.24 MX$61.2
-36.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.38 MX$44.94
0.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.99 $17.99
$3.11 MX$58.7
478.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.31 MX$24.85
-42.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24K $24K
$30.3K MX$573K
-20.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K $22.1K
$24K MX$453.6K
-7.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$84.2 MX$1,592
158.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.32 $34.32
$22.14 MX$419
55.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.07 $49.07
$30.14 MX$570
62.81%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.49 $43.49
$52 MX$983
-16.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$5.07 MX$95.9
201.58%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$301 $301
$200 MX$3,787
50.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
328.30%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.53 $48.53
$35.74 MX$676
35.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.53 $34.53
$39.8 MX$753
-13.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 $70.2
$79 MX$1,493
-11.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 $78.4
$88.4 MX$1,671
-11.24%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 $1,571
$965 MX$18.3K
62.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$814 $814
$474 MX$8,968
71.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,601 $2,601
$1,653 MX$31.2K
57.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 $1,159
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-3.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-18.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,750 $2,750
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-63.48%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shelby, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,486 $2,486
$792 MX$15K
214.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
11.42
-44.13%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shelby, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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