Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,756 per month in Waco, TX vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,750 per month in Waco, TX vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,743 per month in Waco, TX vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Waco, TX costs about 114% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Waco, TX sits 106% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.48 $19.48

$11.94 MX$209

63.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 $63.5

$42.75 MX$748

48.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.59 MX$185

-6.89%

Cappuccino

$5.80 $5.80

$3.62 MX$63.4

60.22%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$1.47 MX$25.69

51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.94 MX$16.51

63.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.09 MX$54.1

96.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.46 MX$78.0

11.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.43 MX$24.94

-30.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.88 MX$32.97

46.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.63 MX$28.50

58.28%

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$2.64 MX$46.26

62.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$8.21 MX$144

49.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.53 $10.53

$8.29 MX$145

27.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$11.10 MX$194

4.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.65 MX$46.40

53.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.50 MX$26.26

-21.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.99 MX$34.79

107.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.08 MX$36.33

78.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.79 MX$31.29

51.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.18 MX$38.09

25.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.08 MX$18.84

50.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.04 MX$18.15

67.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 $8.10

$3.97 MX$69.5

104.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.20 MX$179

36.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.73 MX$30.22

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.50 MX$43.71

38.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.52 MX$9.07

194.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.61 $40.61

$26.97 MX$472

50.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.14 MX$55.0

37.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.40 MX$42.04

-23.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.45 $35.45

$3.09 MX$54.0

1047.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.27 MX$22.28

-44.09%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-17.32%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

12.01%

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

$174 $174

$82.0 MX$1,435

111.91%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$22.45 MX$393

164.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$29.66 MX$519

120.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.68 $27.68

$51.9 MX$908

-46.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$9.56 $9.56

$4.97 MX$87.0

92.35%

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

$853 $853

$198 MX$3,462

330.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

319.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$36.34 MX$636

40.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.89 $45.89

$40.05 MX$701

14.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 $79.1

$79.9 MX$1,398

-0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$88.9 MX$1,555

31.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 $1,187

$963 MX$16.9K

23.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 $1,531

$465 MX$8,133

229.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,419 $2,419

$1,596 MX$27.9K

51.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$1,209 MX$21.2K

81.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,925 $1,925

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-51.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,953 $1,953

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-69.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,162 $3,162

$720 MX$12.6K

338.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

11.42

-43.52%

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

Last update for Waco, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,187 in Waco, TX versus $963 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 339% higher in Waco, TX, 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 $64.0 in Waco, TX versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $251 – 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

Waco, TX vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Waco, TX is pricier by about 114%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,134 per month in Waco, TX and $1,930 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 $2,756 in Waco, TX and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Waco, TX at $2,756. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Waco, TX 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.

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