Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Playa del Carmen
For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,215 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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United States Living Index133Cost of Living Index in the United StatesLearn more -
Playa del Carmen Living Index60Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 35.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 129.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 50% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 68.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$10.97 MX$201
84.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$44.85 MX$823
80.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$11.92 MX$219
1.68%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.80 MX$69.9
41.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.31 MX$24.08
111.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.86 MX$15.72
143.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.21 MX$59.0
81.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$5.01 MX$92.0
58.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.46 MX$26.77
-28.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.33 MX$42.72
52.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.44 MX$26.48
225.69%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.46 MX$45.20
80.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$7.70 MX$141
67.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$7.89 MX$145
54.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$12.80 MX$235
32.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.92 MX$53.6
81.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.42 MX$26.11
17.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.57 MX$47.10
74.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.14 MX$39.24
135.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.95 MX$35.75
45.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.94 MX$35.55
54.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.15 MX$21.13
98.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.22 MX$22.42
86.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$4.38 MX$80.3
135.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$9.85 MX$181
49.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.54 MX$28.23
33.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.72 MX$49.86
34.56%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$0.52 MX$9.64
348.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$27.42 MX$503
137.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$4.91 MX$90.2
-26.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$3.52 MX$64.7
-46.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$5.69 MX$104
423.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.54 MX$28.27
-33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$21.2K MX$389.9K
65.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.5K MX$449.6K
7.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$83.6 MX$1,535
158.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$24.03 MX$441
159.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$29.33 MX$539
154.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$64.9 MX$1,191
-31.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$29.46 MX$541
-23.46%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$5.09 MX$93.4
198.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$208 MX$3,813
593.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$4,045 MX$74.3K
523.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$44.55 MX$818
20.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$42.06 MX$772
0.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$75.5 MX$1,387
23.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$91.4 MX$1,678
25.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$986 MX$18.1K
64.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$385 MX$7,072
252.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$1,713 MX$31.5K
56.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$1,108 MX$20.4K
95.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$4,016 MX$73.7K
-17.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$6,247 MX$114.7K
-57.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$758 MX$13.9K
459.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
11.45
-42.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States $1.4K 49.4%
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4% 71.6% $971
Groceries & Markets
United States $411 15%
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2% 36.6% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $353 12.9%
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2% 61.2% $216
Eating Out
United States $327 11.9%
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6% 37.6% $123
Clothing & Footwear
United States $137 5%
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3% 16.7% $23
Getting Around
United States $87 3.2%
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2% 40.5% $35
Sport & Entertainment
United States $75 2.7%
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1% 0.1% $0
Accommodation & Living
United States $2.2K 41.3%
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5% 48.9% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
United States $942 17.9%
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8% 36.1% $340
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $415 7.9%
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3% 61.2% $254
Eating Out
United States $1.1K 20.3%
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8% 40.8% $435
Clothing & Footwear
United States $304 5.8%
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3% 16.7% $51
Getting Around
United States $180 3.4%
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5% 41.5% $75
Sport & Entertainment
United States $173 3.3%
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9% 4% $6.8
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
Weather
Population
340,110,988
149,923
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United States Playa del Carmen 1,670 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- United States
- 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
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