Cost of Living Comparison Between Texarkana, AR and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Texarkana, AR and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,671 per month in Texarkana, AR vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,881 per month in Texarkana, AR vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,091 per month in Texarkana, AR vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Texarkana, AR costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Texarkana, AR sits 99% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$11.67 MX$202
52.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2 $59.2
$41.88 MX$726
41.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$10.40 MX$180
17.50%
Cappuccino
$6.56 $6.56
$3.61 MX$62.6
81.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.47 MX$25.45
80.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$0.91 MX$15.80
119.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.03 MX$52.6
64.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 $5.62
$4.47 MX$77.4
25.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.38 MX$23.83
-31.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.24 $3.24
$1.84 MX$31.93
76.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$1.61 MX$27.82
142.86%
Eggs
$3.53 $3.53
$2.57 MX$44.52
37.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 $10.03
$8.49 MX$147
18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.43 $15.43
$8.49 MX$147
81.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.61 $19.61
$10.99 MX$190
78.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.91 $5.91
$2.73 MX$47.25
116.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.50 MX$25.92
72.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.96 MX$33.93
95.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.12 MX$36.70
93.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.86 MX$32.30
24.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.17 MX$37.67
27.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.07 MX$18.59
102.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.05 MX$18.18
107.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.96 $8.96
$4.19 MX$72.6
113.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.79 $19.79
$10.28 MX$178
92.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.67 MX$28.87
13.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.49 MX$43.12
74.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.54 MX$9.37
279.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.10 MX$53.8
-2.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.46 MX$42.66
-29.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.78 $23.78
$3.24 MX$56.1
633.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.26 MX$21.83
-37.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-18.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$23.4K MX$406.3K
12.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 $233
$84.0 MX$1,456
177.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$22.21 MX$385
236.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.1 $78.1
$29.65 MX$514
163.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.86 $42.86
$52.6 MX$912
-18.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.55 $13.55
$4.95 MX$85.7
173.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,867 $1,867
$198 MX$3,438
841.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
339.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$35.95 MX$623
68.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.07 $45.07
$40.06 MX$694
12.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 $113
$78.8 MX$1,365
43.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$86.5 MX$1,499
47.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 $1,623
$977 MX$16.9K
66.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$471 MX$8,158
190.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,644 $2,644
$1,595 MX$27.6K
65.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,254 $2,254
$1,215 MX$21.1K
85.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,704 $2,704
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-32.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,718 $2,718
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-58.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Texarkana, AR
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$714 MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
11.42
-42.29%

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

Last update for Texarkana, AR: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,623 in Texarkana, AR 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Texarkana, AR versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $252 – 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
Texarkana, AR vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Texarkana, AR?
Yes – Texarkana, AR is pricier by about 112%, 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 $4,007 per month in Texarkana, AR and $1,891 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 Texarkana, AR vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,671 in Texarkana, AR and $1,261 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 $1,867 per month in Texarkana, AR 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 Texarkana, AR 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 Texarkana, AR at $2,671. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Texarkana, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Texarkana, AR 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, Texarkana, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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