Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Waterloo, IA and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Waterloo, IA is 16% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 47.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Waterloo, IA is 61.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 4.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$11.99 MX$227
52.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.4 $66.4
$42.47 MX$803
56.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$10.47 MX$198
-5.54%
Cappuccino
$5.24 $5.24
$3.6 MX$68.2
45.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.44 MX$27.16
93.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$0.89 MX$16.79
168.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$3.09 MX$58.5
98.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$4.58 MX$86.6
49.13%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.38 MX$26.04
-26.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.85 MX$34.9
4.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.57 MX$29.68
9.55%
Eggs
$2.86 $2.86
$2.55 MX$48.3
12.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 $9.28
$8.61 MX$163
7.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.7 $6.7
$8.54 MX$161
-21.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.74 $12.74
$10.98 MX$208
16.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.72 MX$51.4
41.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.51 MX$28.57
-20.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.88 MX$35.63
76.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.19 MX$41.42
103.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.87 MX$35.3
-40.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.19 MX$41.37
-3.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.07 MX$20.23
72.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.09 MX$20.64
40.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.96 MX$74.9
100.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.01 $12.01
$8.86 MX$167
35.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.72 MX$32.53
-1.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.61 MX$49.37
-31.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.52 MX$9.74
278.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.89 $4.89
$3.24 MX$61.2
50.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.38 MX$44.94
-39.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.73 $29.73
$3.11 MX$58.7
855.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.31 MX$24.85
-41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$30.3K MX$573K
16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$24K MX$453.6K
8.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$84.2 MX$1,592
133.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.84 $48.84
$22.14 MX$419
120.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$30.14 MX$570
97.05%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 $42.83
$52 MX$983
-17.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.8 $13.8
$5.07 MX$95.9
172.19%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,454 $1,454
$200 MX$3,787
625.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
471.15%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.76 $38.76
$35.74 MX$676
8.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.15 $42.15
$39.8 MX$753
5.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.6 $58.6
$79 MX$1,493
-25.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$88.4 MX$1,671
45.98%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$842 $842
$965 MX$18.3K
-12.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 $747
$474 MX$8,968
57.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,974 $1,974
$1,653 MX$31.2K
19.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 $863
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-28.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 $1,457
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-52.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,429 $1,429
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-81.01%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Waterloo, IA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,529 $3,529
$792 MX$15K
345.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
11.42
-43.70%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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