Cost of Living Comparison Between Taylor, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Taylor, TX and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,313 per month in Taylor, TX vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,472 per month in Taylor, TX vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,632 per month in Taylor, TX vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Taylor, TX costs about 83% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Taylor, TX sits 69% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.24 $20.24
$11.60 MX$199
74.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1 $75.1
$47.11 MX$809
59.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 $11.72
$11.88 MX$204
-1.35%
Cappuccino
$5.44 $5.44
$3.98 MX$68.2
36.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.43 MX$24.49
81.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.82 MX$14.16
148.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$3.19 MX$54.7
89.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$6.79 MX$117
4.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.68 MX$28.76
-44.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.20 MX$37.71
0.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.71 MX$29.32
74.27%
Eggs
$4.10 $4.10
$2.74 MX$47.05
49.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 $7.90
$9.58 MX$164
-17.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$27.81 $27.81
$9.01 MX$155
208.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$12.81 MX$220
-12.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.89 MX$49.58
17.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.50 MX$25.70
78.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$2.15 MX$36.87
90.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.26 MX$38.79
3.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.98 MX$34.00
24.75%
Onion (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$1.99 MX$34.15
133.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.23 MX$21.18
121.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.20 MX$20.54
74.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.66 $8.66
$4.55 MX$78.1
90.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.16 $13.16
$10.37 MX$178
26.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.62 MX$27.79
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.88 MX$49.44
13.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 $1.79
$0.60 MX$10.30
198.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.80 MX$494
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$5.39 MX$92.5
-43.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 $1.62
$3.73 MX$64.0
-56.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.46 $32.46
$5.77 MX$99.0
462.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.54 MX$26.37
-42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$22.5K MX$387.0K
25.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$26.1K MX$447.3K
26.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$91.4 MX$1,569
114.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.7 $57.7
$25.20 MX$433
128.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 $56.1
$31.24 MX$536
79.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.05 $41.05
$67.2 MX$1,154
-38.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94 $9.94
$4.86 MX$83.5
104.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,407 $1,407
$224 MX$3,839
529.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K $26.3K
$4,229 MX$72.6K
521.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$47.10 MX$808
12.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.92 $40.92
$44.29 MX$760
-7.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$80.1 MX$1,375
49.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$92.7 MX$1,591
22.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 $1,269
$1,063 MX$18.2K
19.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 $1,057
$390 MX$6,698
170.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 $1,921
$2,149 MX$36.9K
-10.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,771 $1,771
$1,272 MX$21.8K
39.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,759 $2,759
$4,001 MX$68.7K
-31.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,424 $2,424
$6,502 MX$111.6K
-62.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taylor, TX
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,439 $2,439
$758 MX$13.0K
221.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%

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

Last update for Taylor, TX: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,269 in Taylor, TX versus $1,063 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 222% higher in Taylor, TX, 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 $75.0 in Taylor, TX versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $276 – 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
Taylor, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Taylor, TX?
Yes – Taylor, TX is pricier by about 83%, 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 $3,469 per month in Taylor, TX and $1,899 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 Taylor, TX and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,313 in Taylor, TX and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,407 per month in Taylor, TX and $224 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 Taylor, TX or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Taylor, TX at $2,313. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taylor, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Taylor, TX 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 safer, Taylor, TX or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Taylor, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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