Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Smyrna, GA and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,850 in Smyrna, GA, rent and utilities included – about $19,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Smyrna, GA, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Smyrna, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,850
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Smyrna, GA and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Smyrna, GA and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,850 per month in Smyrna, GA vs $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Smyrna, GA $2,850
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

A couple spends around $3,994 per month in Smyrna, GA vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Smyrna, GA $3,994
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $5,139 per month in Smyrna, GA vs $2,962 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Smyrna, GA $5,139
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Smyrna, GA costs about 137% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Smyrna, GA sits 111% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.87 $16.87
$10.67 MX$200
58.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.3 $55.3
$43.80 MX$819
26.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 $10.53
$11.79 MX$220
-10.69%
Cappuccino
$5.80 $5.80
$3.79 MX$70.8
53.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.30 MX$24.26
131.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.83 MX$15.59
165.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.68 $6.68
$3.15 MX$58.9
112.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$4.93 MX$92.3
62.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.41 MX$26.35
-35.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.20 MX$41.07
18.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$1.47 MX$27.54
177.55%
Eggs
$3.44 $3.44
$2.50 MX$46.70
37.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.93 $13.93
$7.29 MX$136
91.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.13 $11.13
$7.95 MX$149
40.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$12.86 MX$241
18.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$2.90 MX$54.2
100.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.38 MX$25.87
-3.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$2.49 MX$46.59
123.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$2.03 MX$37.97
100.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.02 MX$37.88
67.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.90 MX$35.60
34.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.14 MX$21.41
89.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.24 MX$23.17
61.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.66 $8.66
$4.27 MX$79.9
102.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 $15.30
$9.81 MX$184
55.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.59 MX$29.66
6.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 $4.85
$2.75 MX$51.3
76.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.51 MX$9.63
384.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.39 MX$512
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.76 MX$89.1
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$3.25 MX$60.8
-52.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.77 $23.77
$5.39 MX$101
341.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.53 MX$28.58
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K $32.0K
$21.2K MX$396.8K
50.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$23.3K MX$435.1K
14.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$255 $255
$83.5 MX$1,562
205.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$23.19 MX$434
133.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.9 $80.9
$27.61 MX$516
192.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$202 $202
$56.4 MX$1,056
257.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.24 $14.24
$28.19 MX$527
-49.49%
Cinema Ticket
$16.66 $16.66
$5.00 MX$93.5
233.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,049 $1,049
$207 MX$3,873
406.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K $19.8K
$5,231 MX$97.8K
278.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 $54.5
$43.45 MX$813
25.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.20 $45.20
$42.54 MX$796
6.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 $83.7
$72.8 MX$1,361
14.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9 $87.9
$88.4 MX$1,653
-0.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,659 $1,659
$995 MX$18.6K
66.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 $1,390
$382 MX$7,152
263.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,933 $2,933
$1,674 MX$31.3K
75.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 $2,123
$1,081 MX$20.2K
96.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,387 $2,387
$3,909 MX$73.1K
-38.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,039 $2,039
$6,138 MX$114.8K
-66.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Smyrna, GA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,429 $4,429
$832 MX$15.6K
432.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.45
-42.71%

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

Last update for Smyrna, GA: October 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Smyrna, GA
$1.4K
Playa del Carmen
$382 72.5% $1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Smyrna, GA
$390
Playa del Carmen
$134 65.6% $256
Groceries & Markets
Smyrna, GA
$385
Playa del Carmen
$257 33.1% $127
Eating Out
Smyrna, GA
$307
Playa del Carmen
$200 34.7% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Smyrna, GA
$235
Playa del Carmen
$66 71.7% $169
Clothing & Footwear
Smyrna, GA
$122
Playa del Carmen
$111 8.9% $11
Getting Around
Smyrna, GA
$21 *
Playa del Carmen
$50 139% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,659 in Smyrna, GA versus $995 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 in Smyrna, GA are about 5.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Smyrna, GA versus $44 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $257 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Smyrna, GA
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
12:21 12:21 PM
12:21 12:21 PM
Same time as Smyrna, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,371
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 21.01 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Smyrna, GA Playa del Carmen 1,500 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Smyrna, GA
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Smyrna, GA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Smyrna, GA?
Yes – Smyrna, GA is pricier by about 137%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,274 per month in Smyrna, GA and $1,804 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $995 there versus $1,659 in Smyrna, GA.
What are total monthly expenses in Smyrna, GA and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,850 in Smyrna, GA and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 58% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,049 per month in Smyrna, GA and $207 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 Smyrna, GA or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Smyrna, GA at $2,850. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Smyrna, GA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Smyrna, GA 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 or specific career opportunities are the priority, Smyrna, GA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Smyrna, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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