Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Playa del Carmen
For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,215 a month against $3,836 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $31,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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U.S. Virgin Islands Living Index190Cost of Living Index in the U.S. Virgin IslandsLearn more -
Playa del Carmen Living Index60Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The U.S. Virgin Islands is 153.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 215.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The U.S. Virgin Islands is 178.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 207.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.76 $24.76
$10.97 MX$201
125.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$44.85 MX$823
220.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$11.92 MX$219
1.68%
Cappuccino
$7.35 $7.35
$3.80 MX$69.9
93.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.31 MX$24.08
151.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.86 MX$15.72
195.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.21 MX$59.0
121.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$5.01 MX$92.0
40.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.46 MX$26.77
92.47%
White Bread (500g)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.33 MX$42.72
187.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$16.52 $16.52
$1.44 MX$26.48
1047.22%
Eggs
$8.50 $8.50
$2.46 MX$45.20
245.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.79 $23.79
$7.70 MX$141
208.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$25.84 $25.84
$7.89 MX$145
227.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.46 $31.46
$12.80 MX$235
145.78%
Apples (1kg)
$13.66 $13.66
$2.92 MX$53.6
367.81%
Banana (1kg)
$7.70 $7.70
$1.42 MX$26.11
442.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$11.33 $11.33
$2.57 MX$47.10
340.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$13.65 $13.65
$2.14 MX$39.24
537.85%
Potato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.95 MX$35.75
144.62%
Onion (1kg)
$7.83 $7.83
$1.94 MX$35.55
303.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.80 $5.80
$1.15 MX$21.13
404.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.22 MX$22.42
288.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91 $6.91
$4.38 MX$80.3
57.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 $23.07
$9.85 MX$181
134.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.54 MX$28.23
93.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.72 MX$49.86
125.74%
🚌 Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.05 $6.05
$0.52 MX$9.64
1063.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$104 $104
$27.42 MX$503
278.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.10 $20.10
$4.91 MX$90.2
309.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.15 $3.15
$3.52 MX$64.7
-10.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.5 $50.5
$5.69 MX$104
788.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.54 MX$28.27
-12.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.5K $49.5K
$21.2K MX$389.9K
133.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.6K $52.6K
$24.5K MX$449.6K
114.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$383 $383
$83.6 MX$1,535
357.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$90.7 $90.7
$24.03 MX$441
277.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.3 $88.3
$29.33 MX$539
200.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$152 $152
$64.9 MX$1,191
135.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.46 MX$541
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.12 $12.12
$5.09 MX$93.4
138.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,504 $1,504
$208 MX$3,813
624.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$4,045 MX$74.3K
297.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7 $82.7
$44.55 MX$818
85.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 $69.9
$42.06 MX$772
66.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$75.5 MX$1,387
66.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$91.4 MX$1,678
39.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,711 $1,711
$986 MX$18.1K
73.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 $1,528
$385 MX$7,072
296.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,805 $3,805
$1,713 MX$31.5K
122.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,072 $4,072
$1,108 MX$20.4K
267.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K $10.2K
$4,016 MX$73.7K
154.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$6,247 MX$114.7K
73.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
U.S. Virgin Islands
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,846 $3,846
$758 MX$13.9K
407.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.72
11.45
-32.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 5, 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
U.S. Virgin Islands $1.5K 39.1%
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4% 74.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands $902 23.1%
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2% 71.1% $641
Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands $562 14.4%
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2% 75.6% $425
Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands $396 10.1%
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6% 48.4% $192
Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands $183 4.7%
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3% 37.5% $68
Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands $177 4.5%
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1% 57.5% $102
Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands $164 4.2%
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2% 68.2% $112
Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands $4.1K 43.2%
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5% 72.8% $3K
Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands $2.1K 22.1%
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8% 71.1% $1.5K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands $652 6.9%
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3% 75.3% $491
Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands $1.5K 16.1%
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8% 58.5% $891
Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands $406 4.3%
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3% 37.5% $152
Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands $353 * 3.8%
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9% 49.2% $174
Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands $340 3.6%
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5% 69.1% $235
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
Weather
Population
87,146
149,923
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- U.S. Virgin Islands Playa del Carmen 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- 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
U.S. Virgin Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared
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