😐A single person spends $2,048 per month in Springfield, MO vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,900 per month in Springfield, MO vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,752 per month in Springfield, MO vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Springfield, MO costs about 63% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Springfield, MO sits 53% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88$14.88
$11.99MX$210
24.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9$50.9
$41.78MX$733
21.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.56$8.56
$10.75MX$189
-20.37%
Cappuccino
$4.32$4.32
$3.50MX$61.3
23.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32$2.32
$1.45MX$25.41
60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$0.88MX$15.52
113.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.03$4.03
$2.95MX$51.7
36.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13$6.13
$4.51MX$79.1
35.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.43MX$25.12
-29.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02$3.02
$1.84MX$32.23
64.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.57MX$27.51
29.30%
Eggs
$3.42$3.42
$2.51MX$44.06
36.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93$8.93
$8.28MX$145
7.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23$9.23
$8.43MX$148
9.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.17$14.17
$10.68MX$187
32.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$2.61MX$45.76
69.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23$1.23
$1.44MX$25.22
-14.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$1.96MX$34.41
64.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.04$4.04
$2.09MX$36.74
93.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69$1.69
$1.85MX$32.47
-8.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57$2.57
$2.17MX$38.02
18.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92$1.92
$1.03MX$18.09
86.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$1.07MX$18.84
77.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11$7.11
$4.10MX$72.0
73.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.06$12.06
$10.17MX$178
18.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.68MX$29.38
0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60$3.60
$2.53MX$44.31
42.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28$1.28
$0.51MX$8.93
150.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.95$44.95
$26.04MX$457
72.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.93$2.93
$3.23MX$56.7
-9.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46$1.46
$2.41MX$42.19
-39.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.36$35.36
$3.23MX$56.6
994.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.32MX$23.17
-40.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-0.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
8.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231$231
$82.0MX$1,439
181.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.9$66.9
$22.95MX$403
191.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5$73.5
$30.11MX$528
144.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6$56.6
$52.0MX$912
8.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.54$34.54
$18.53MX$325
86.40%
Cinema Ticket
$11.90$11.90
$4.98MX$87.3
138.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$782$782
$197MX$3,463
295.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,336MX$93.6K
337.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2$53.2
$35.60MX$624
49.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.17$33.17
$40.33MX$707
-17.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.1$68.1
$78.8MX$1,381
-13.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100$100
$88.9MX$1,560
12.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$933$933
$947MX$16.6K
-1.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$849$849
$474MX$8,314
79.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,703$1,703
$1,644MX$28.8K
3.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,307$1,307
$1,211MX$21.2K
7.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,791$1,791
$4,056MX$71.1K
-55.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,787$1,787
$6,470MX$113.5K
-72.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,977$2,977
$654MX$11.5K
355.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.65
11.42
-41.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Springfield, MO: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $933 in Springfield, MO versus $947 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 355% higher in Springfield, MO, 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 $51.0 in Springfield, MO versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $249 – 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
Springfield, MO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Springfield, MO?
Yes – Springfield, MO is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,072 per month in Springfield, MO and $1,884 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 Springfield, MO and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,048 in Springfield, MO and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Springfield, MO or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Springfield, MO at $2,048. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Springfield, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Springfield, MO 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, Springfield, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Springfield, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared