Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Springfield, MO and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,216 in Springfield, MO, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Springfield, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,216
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Springfield, MO 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 Springfield, MO and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,216 per month in Springfield, MO vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Springfield, MO $2,216
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,256 per month in Springfield, MO vs $2,102 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Springfield, MO $3,256
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

A family of three spends $4,296 per month in Springfield, MO vs $3,000 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Springfield, MO $4,296
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Springfield, MO costs about 84% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Springfield, MO sits 64% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.93 $27.93
$10.86 MX$201
157.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.6 $59.6
$44.21 MX$817
34.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$11.76 MX$217
-5.02%
Cappuccino
$4.89 $4.89
$3.68 MX$68.0
32.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.34 MX$24.79
63.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.82 MX$15.24
167.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 $4.62
$3.06 MX$56.6
50.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38 $6.38
$4.94 MX$91.2
29.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.47 MX$27.17
-22.45%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.22 MX$40.95
48.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.48 MX$27.32
41.89%
Eggs
$3.79 $3.79
$2.49 MX$45.99
52.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$7.52 MX$139
51.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.75 $8.75
$7.96 MX$147
9.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 $15.29
$12.57 MX$232
21.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$2.78 MX$51.3
61.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.43 MX$26.37
-23.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.62 MX$48.37
17.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.14 MX$39.49
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.02 MX$37.38
-18.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.99 MX$36.74
18.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.14 MX$21.01
58.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.20 MX$22.18
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13 $8.13
$4.26 MX$78.7
90.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 $13.74
$10.02 MX$185
37.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.54 MX$28.41
16.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.66 MX$49.17
68.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.53 MX$9.73
141.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.72 $44.72
$27.51 MX$508
62.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$4.90 MX$90.6
-39.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.43 MX$63.5
-57.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.69 $36.69
$5.38 MX$99.4
581.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.45 MX$26.76
-35.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
34.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
14.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$272 $272
$85.4 MX$1,577
219.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$23.46 MX$434
151.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7 $72.7
$28.43 MX$525
155.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 $57.5
$62.2 MX$1,149
-7.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.36 $34.36
$28.68 MX$530
19.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 $12.77
$5.10 MX$94.3
150.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$759 $759
$201 MX$3,715
277.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,947 MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 $72.1
$44.39 MX$820
62.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 $36.38
$41.35 MX$764
-12.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 $79.8
$72.7 MX$1,344
9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$89.6 MX$1,656
41.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 $996
$979 MX$18.1K
1.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$817 $817
$373 MX$6,887
119.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 $1,706
$1,681 MX$31.1K
1.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,351 $1,351
$1,095 MX$20.2K
23.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,830 $1,830
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-53.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,806 $1,806
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-70.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, MO
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,009 $3,009
$738 MX$13.6K
307.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
11.45
-44.45%

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

Last update for Springfield, MO: October 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Springfield, MO
$817
Playa del Carmen
$373 54.4% $445
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, MO
$404
Playa del Carmen
$137 66% $267
Eating Out
Springfield, MO
$369
Playa del Carmen
$200 45.7% $169
Groceries & Markets
Springfield, MO
$340
Playa del Carmen
$258 24.1% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, MO
$142
Playa del Carmen
$112 21.3% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
$83
Playa del Carmen
$72 12.9% $11
Getting Around
Springfield, MO
$60
Playa del Carmen
$52 14% $8.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $996 in Springfield, MO versus $979 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 308% 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 $60.0 in Springfield, MO versus $44.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Springfield, MO
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
10:16 10:16 AM
10:16 10:16 AM
Same time as Springfield, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,482
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Springfield, MO Playa del Carmen 1,940 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Springfield, MO
  • 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
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 84%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,324 per month in Springfield, MO and $1,806 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 $2,216 in Springfield, MO and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 84%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 63% 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 $1,204, than in Springfield, MO at $2,216. 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

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