Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,737 per month in University Place, WA vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,118 per month in University Place, WA vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,499 per month in University Place, WA vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

University Place, WA costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

University Place, WA sits 100% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.47 $22.47

$11.60 MX$200

93.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$47.11 MX$811

159.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 $11.96

$11.88 MX$205

0.67%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$3.98 MX$68.5

52.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.43 MX$24.58

127.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$0.82 MX$14.20

223.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$3.19 MX$54.9

150.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$6.79 MX$117

78.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.68 MX$28.86

-38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.02 $4.02

$2.20 MX$37.84

82.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.71 MX$29.42

66.08%

Eggs

$5.31 $5.31

$2.74 MX$47.21

93.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$9.58 MX$165

54.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.23 $22.23

$9.01 MX$155

146.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.30 $23.30

$12.81 MX$221

81.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$2.89 MX$49.75

88.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.50 MX$25.79

12.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$2.15 MX$37.00

156.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.26 MX$38.92

90.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.98 MX$34.11

38.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.99 MX$34.27

46.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.23 MX$21.26

61.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.20 MX$20.61

145.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.84 $11.84

$4.55 MX$78.4

160.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.27 $18.27

$10.37 MX$179

76.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.62 MX$27.88

6.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.88 MX$49.61

25.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.60 MX$10.34

186.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 $2.66

$5.39 MX$92.8

-50.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.73 MX$64.2

-54.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$5.77 MX$99.4

412.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.54 MX$26.46

-9.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$22.5K MX$388.4K

61.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.1K MX$448.8K

0.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$158 $158

$91.4 MX$1,574

73.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.0 $53.0

$25.20 MX$434

110.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 $85.6

$31.24 MX$538

173.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.55 $41.55

$67.2 MX$1,158

-38.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$19.29 $19.29

$4.86 MX$83.8

296.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,924 $1,924

$224 MX$3,852

760.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$4,229 MX$72.8K

646.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 $61.0

$47.10 MX$811

29.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.12 $37.12

$44.29 MX$763

-16.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$80.1 MX$1,380

25.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$92.7 MX$1,596

23.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 $1,564

$1,063 MX$18.3K

47.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$390 MX$6,721

232.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$2,149 MX$37.0K

17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 $2,106

$1,272 MX$21.9K

65.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,021 $3,021

$4,001 MX$68.9K

-24.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,249 $2,249

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-65.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,023 $8,023

$758 MX$13.1K

958.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

11.45

-47.34%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,564 in University Place, WA 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 958% higher in University Place, WA, 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 $122 in University Place, WA versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $499 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

University Place, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – University Place, WA is pricier by about 116%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,106 per month in University Place, WA and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,737 in University Place, WA and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,924 per month in University Place, WA and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in University Place, WA at $2,737. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in University Place, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, University Place, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.