Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, OK and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Stillwater, OK and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,996 per month in Stillwater, OK vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,446 per month in Stillwater, OK vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,896 per month in Stillwater, OK vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Stillwater, OK costs about 58% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Stillwater, OK sits 49% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02 $15.02
$11.67 MX$202
28.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.94 $42.94
$41.88 MX$726
2.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 $10.63
$10.40 MX$180
2.21%
Cappuccino
$4.59 $4.59
$3.61 MX$62.6
27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.47 MX$25.45
78.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.91 MX$15.80
67.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.03 MX$52.6
35.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 $4.90
$4.47 MX$77.4
9.62%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.38 MX$23.83
-23.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.84 MX$31.93
38.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$1.61 MX$27.82
226.71%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$2.57 MX$44.52
61.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$8.49 MX$147
12.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.54 $10.54
$8.49 MX$147
24.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.48 $16.48
$10.99 MX$190
49.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.73 MX$47.25
67.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.50 MX$25.92
-14.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.96 MX$33.93
85.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.12 MX$36.70
28.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.86 MX$32.30
24.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.17 MX$37.67
17.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.07 MX$18.59
106.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.05 MX$18.18
67.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66 $7.66
$4.19 MX$72.6
82.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 $10.66
$10.28 MX$178
3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.67 MX$28.87
5.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.49 MX$43.12
22.89%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.54 MX$9.37
274.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.10 MX$53.8
12.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$2.46 MX$42.66
-36.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.67 $28.67
$3.24 MX$56.1
784.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.26 MX$21.83
-43.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$30.2K MX$522.8K
4.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$23.4K MX$406.3K
18.00%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$84.0 MX$1,456
128.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.62 $43.62
$22.21 MX$385
96.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6 $65.6
$29.65 MX$514
121.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.77 $43.77
$52.6 MX$912
-16.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.89 $11.89
$4.95 MX$85.7
140.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,504 $1,504
$198 MX$3,438
658.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
349.13%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.14 $47.14
$35.95 MX$623
31.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.86 $38.86
$40.06 MX$694
-3.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$78.8 MX$1,365
30.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8 $89.8
$86.5 MX$1,499
3.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 $1,047
$977 MX$16.9K
7.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$917 $917
$471 MX$8,158
94.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 $2,851
$1,595 MX$27.6K
78.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$1,215 MX$21.1K
117.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,706 $1,706
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-57.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,729 $1,729
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-73.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Stillwater, OK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,345 $2,345
$714 MX$12.4K
228.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.42
-42.56%

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

Last update for Stillwater, OK: April 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,047 in Stillwater, OK versus $977 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 228% higher in Stillwater, OK, 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 $43 in Stillwater, OK versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $252 โ€“ 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
Stillwater, OK vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stillwater, OK?
Yes โ€“ Stillwater, OK is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,994 per month in Stillwater, OK and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 Stillwater, OK vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,996 in Stillwater, OK and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,504 per month in Stillwater, OK and $198 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 Stillwater, OK or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Stillwater, OK at $1,996. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stillwater, OK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stillwater, OK or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ€“ 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, Stillwater, OK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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