Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Wasilla, AK and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,896 in Wasilla, AK, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Wasilla, AK, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Wasilla, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,896
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Wasilla, AK and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wasilla, AK and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,896 per month in Wasilla, AK vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Wasilla, AK $2,896
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $4,119 per month in Wasilla, AK vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Wasilla, AK $4,119
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $5,343 per month in Wasilla, AK vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Wasilla, AK $5,343
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Wasilla, AK costs about 140% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Wasilla, AK sits 113% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.52 $24.52
$10.92 MX$204
124.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$43.37 MX$808
132.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$11.78 MX$220
2.12%
Cappuccino
$3.92 $3.92
$3.81 MX$71.0
2.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.28 MX$23.90
57.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.78 MX$14.59
161.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 $5.62
$3.17 MX$59.0
77.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$4.93 MX$92.0
57.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.41 MX$26.22
-12.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.10 $3.10
$2.22 MX$41.33
39.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$1.42 MX$26.42
344.37%
Eggs
$3.27 $3.27
$2.52 MX$47.03
29.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.75 $13.75
$7.26 MX$135
89.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.21 $10.21
$7.70 MX$143
32.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.66 $15.66
$12.69 MX$237
23.40%
Apples (1kg)
$8.02 $8.02
$2.78 MX$51.9
188.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.37 MX$25.50
61.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.55 MX$47.55
50.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.12 MX$39.58
103.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.94 MX$36.13
32.99%
Onion (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.89 MX$35.16
68.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.15 MX$21.37
138.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.18 MX$21.98
90.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.85 $12.85
$4.30 MX$80.1
198.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.92 $17.92
$9.95 MX$185
80.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.58 MX$29.52
7.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.67 MX$49.79
29.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.55 MX$10.31
256.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.1 $61.1
$26.62 MX$496
129.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.97 MX$92.6
-44.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$3.33 MX$62.1
-49.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.01 $38.01
$5.36 MX$99.8
609.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.44 MX$26.92
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
21.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
5.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$84.8 MX$1,581
221.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.81 $47.81
$23.41 MX$436
104.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$137 $137
$28.66 MX$534
378.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.6 $86.6
$57.1 MX$1,063
51.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.76 $34.76
$28.91 MX$539
20.24%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 $8.32
$5.14 MX$95.8
61.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,266 $1,266
$207 MX$3,851
512.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K $10.5K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
168.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.84 $48.84
$43.35 MX$808
12.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.39 $46.39
$41.44 MX$772
11.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 $79.7
$74.2 MX$1,383
7.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7 $90.7
$89.3 MX$1,664
1.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,412 $1,412
$980 MX$18.3K
44.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,381 $1,381
$381 MX$7,099
262.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$1,708 MX$31.8K
19.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 $2,022
$1,075 MX$20.0K
88.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wasilla, AK
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 MX$13.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.45
-43.32%

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

Last update for Wasilla, AK: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Wasilla, AK
$1.4K
Playa del Carmen
$381 72.4% $1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wasilla, AK
$458
Playa del Carmen
$137 70.1% $321
Groceries & Markets
Wasilla, AK
$415
Playa del Carmen
$255 38.5% $160
Eating Out
Wasilla, AK
$339
Playa del Carmen
$202 40.3% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Wasilla, AK
$120
Playa del Carmen
$112 6.5% $7.8
Sport & Entertainment
Wasilla, AK
$103
Playa del Carmen
$67 34.8% $36
Getting Around
Wasilla, AK
$80
Playa del Carmen
$50 37% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,412 in Wasilla, AK versus $980 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Wasilla, AK versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Wasilla, AK
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
06:58 6:58 AM
09:58 9:58 AM
3 h ahead of Wasilla, AK
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Wasilla, AK Playa del Carmen 6,550 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Wasilla, AK
  • 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
Wasilla, AK vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Wasilla, AK?
Yes – Wasilla, AK is pricier by about 140%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,344 per month in Wasilla, AK and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,412 in Wasilla, AK.
What are total monthly expenses in Wasilla, AK and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,896 in Wasilla, AK and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a gap of about 140%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Wasilla, AK or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Wasilla, AK at $2,896. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wasilla, AK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wasilla, AK or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 140% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Wasilla, AK vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?