😐A single person spends $2,613 per month in Stockton, CA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,756 per month in Stockton, CA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,899 per month in Stockton, CA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stockton, CA costs about 103% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stockton, CA sits 95% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.62$19.62
$11.94MX$209
64.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2$66.2
$42.75MX$748
54.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46$11.46
$10.59MX$185
8.22%
Cappuccino
$5.71$5.71
$3.62MX$63.4
57.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25$3.25
$1.47MX$25.69
121.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$0.94MX$16.51
154.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.45$6.45
$3.09MX$54.1
108.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.12$6.12
$4.46MX$78.0
37.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47$1.47
$1.43MX$24.94
2.80%
White Bread(500g)
$4.61$4.61
$1.88MX$32.97
145.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20$3.20
$1.63MX$28.50
96.32%
Eggs
$4.77$4.77
$2.64MX$46.26
80.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70$9.70
$8.21MX$144
18.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.17$15.17
$8.29MX$145
82.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.29$23.29
$11.10MX$194
109.82%
Apples(1kg)
$6.12$6.12
$2.65MX$46.40
130.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44$1.44
$1.50MX$26.26
-4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01$3.01
$1.99MX$34.79
51.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.30$6.30
$2.08MX$36.33
202.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$1.79MX$31.29
-8.38%
Onion(1kg)
$4.35$4.35
$2.18MX$38.09
99.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55$2.55
$1.08MX$18.84
136.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$1.04MX$18.15
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.30$11.30
$3.97MX$69.5
184.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.59$14.59
$10.20MX$179
43.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.73MX$30.22
-1.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27$1.27
$2.50MX$43.71
-49.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98$2.98
$0.52MX$9.07
473.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.62$37.62
$26.97MX$472
39.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48$3.48
$3.14MX$55.0
10.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05$2.05
$2.40MX$42.04
-14.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.43$29.43
$3.09MX$54.0
852.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23$1.23
$1.27MX$22.28
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K$25.0K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K$27.2K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
16.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$297$297
$82.0MX$1,435
261.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.37$48.37
$22.45MX$393
115.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4$67.4
$29.66MX$519
127.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.97$35.97
$51.9MX$908
-30.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.93$12.93
$4.97MX$87.0
160.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254$254
$198MX$3,462
28.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K$15.3K
$5,273MX$92.3K
189.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2$53.2
$36.34MX$636
46.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.15$29.15
$40.05MX$701
-27.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0$77.0
$79.9MX$1,398
-3.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3$81.3
$88.9MX$1,555
-8.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,502$1,502
$963MX$16.9K
55.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,186$1,186
$465MX$8,133
155.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,697$2,697
$1,596MX$27.9K
68.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,971$1,971
$1,209MX$21.2K
63.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,089$3,089
$3,942MX$69.0K
-21.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,034$3,034
$6,448MX$112.8K
-52.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockton, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,814$3,814
$720MX$12.6K
429.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.27
11.42
-45.10%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Stockton, CA: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,502 in Stockton, CA versus $963 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 429% higher in Stockton, CA, 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 $66.0 in Stockton, CA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $441 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Stockton, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stockton, CA?
Yes – Stockton, CA is pricier by about 103%, 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 $3,920 per month in Stockton, CA and $1,930 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 Stockton, CA vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,613 in Stockton, CA and $1,287 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 39% 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 Stockton, CA or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Stockton, CA at $2,613. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockton, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stockton, CA 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, Stockton, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Stockton, CA vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado