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 $2,693 per month in University Place, WA vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in University Place, WA vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,276 per month in University Place, WA vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

University Place, WA costs about 114% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

University Place, WA sits 102% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.66 $16.66

$11.95 MX$208

39.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 $117

$41.94 MX$730

178.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.60 $12.60

$10.42 MX$181

20.92%

Cappuccino

$6.02 $6.02

$3.51 MX$61.2

71.51%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$1.52 MX$26.39

93.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.91 MX$15.84

171.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.24 $9.24

$3.04 MX$52.9

203.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.80 $11.80

$4.37 MX$76.1

170.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.42 MX$24.73

-23.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$1.83 MX$31.87

129.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.63 MX$28.45

70.55%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$2.54 MX$44.20

86.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 $11.38

$8.57 MX$149

32.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.16 $16.16

$8.49 MX$148

90.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.49 $19.49

$10.80 MX$188

80.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.75 MX$47.94

82.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.44 MX$25.00

13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.89 MX$32.83

167.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.17 MX$37.77

72.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.78 MX$30.97

90.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.22 MX$38.71

23.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.07 MX$18.60

84.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.08 MX$18.79

179.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.02 $11.02

$4.15 MX$72.2

165.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 $18.74

$10.45 MX$182

79.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.74 MX$30.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.58 MX$44.92

32.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.51 MX$8.94

288.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.21 MX$55.9

-16.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.50 MX$43.55

-22.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.69 $29.69

$3.19 MX$55.4

830.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.26 MX$21.87

-5.56%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$29.7K MX$516.6K

1.26%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.7K MX$412.1K

8.79%

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

$157 $157

$82.0 MX$1,427

90.78%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$22.73 MX$395

131.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.5 $89.5

$29.42 MX$512

204.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.32 $43.32

$52.2 MX$908

-17.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$17.77 $17.77

$4.93 MX$85.9

260.45%

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

$2,070 $2,070

$202 MX$3,511

926.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$5,217 MX$90.8K

470.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 $59.4

$35.93 MX$625

65.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.81 $36.81

$40.33 MX$702

-8.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$79.9 MX$1,390

23.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$89.3 MX$1,554

28.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$948 MX$16.5K

70.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$465 MX$8,097

195.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,664 $2,664

$1,630 MX$28.4K

63.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,258 $2,258

$1,193 MX$20.8K

89.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,758 $2,758

$3,933 MX$68.4K

-29.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,148 $2,148

$6,428 MX$111.9K

-66.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,932 $7,932

$658 MX$11.5K

1104.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,615 in University Place, WA versus $948 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 1105% 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 $117 in University Place, WA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $443 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

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

Yes – University Place, WA is pricier by about 114%, 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 $4,039 per month in University Place, WA and $1,888 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 $2,693 in University Place, WA and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,070 per month in University Place, WA and $202 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 $1,259, than in University Place, WA at $2,693. 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.