Cost of Living Comparison Between Williston, ND and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Williston, ND and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,143 per month in Williston, ND vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,612 per month in Williston, ND vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,081 per month in Williston, ND vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Williston, ND costs about 66% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Williston, ND sits 61% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.74 $18.74

$11.73 MX$202

59.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.3 $75.3

$41.78 MX$719

80.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$10.41 MX$179

5.96%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$3.61 MX$62.1

37.67%

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

$2.50 $2.50

$1.46 MX$25.06

71.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.97 MX$16.70

110.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$2.92 MX$50.3

102.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 $6.91

$4.62 MX$79.5

49.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.43 MX$24.59

-32.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.90 MX$32.70

6.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$1.57 MX$26.95

160.51%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$2.64 MX$45.34

62.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.51 $30.51

$8.44 MX$145

261.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$8.58 MX$148

45.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 $14.19

$11.00 MX$189

29.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.70 MX$46.51

77.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.51 MX$25.92

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.91 MX$32.93

125.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.17 MX$37.37

119.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.87 MX$32.25

47.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.23 MX$38.43

23.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.08 MX$18.60

93.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.07 MX$18.47

104.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 $9.43

$4.16 MX$71.6

126.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$10.29 MX$177

47.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.68 MX$28.95

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.53 MX$43.59

35.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.55 MX$9.53

270.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.20 MX$55.0

12.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.46 MX$42.37

-32.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$3.20 MX$55.0

828.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.32 MX$22.72

-26.52%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-2.68%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.4K MX$402.5K

9.93%

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

$188 $188

$81.4 MX$1,400

131.01%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$22.41 MX$386

138.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 $75.4

$29.97 MX$516

151.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.08 $43.08

$51.6 MX$887

-16.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 $13.70

$5.16 MX$88.9

165.50%

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

$1,282 $1,282

$202 MX$3,471

535.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

338.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 $51.4

$35.61 MX$613

44.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 $39.48

$40.37 MX$695

-2.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$78.6 MX$1,353

12.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$86.9 MX$1,495

30.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$953 $953

$950 MX$16.3K

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$834 $834

$478 MX$8,227

74.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,669 $2,669

$1,621 MX$27.9K

64.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$1,223 MX$21.0K

79.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 $2,151

$4,009 MX$69.0K

-46.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,163 $2,163

$6,473 MX$111.4K

-66.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,973 $5,973

$673 MX$11.6K

787.63%

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 Williston, ND: June 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $953 in Williston, ND versus $950 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 788% higher in Williston, ND, 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 $75.0 in Williston, ND versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $430 vs $254 – 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

Williston, ND vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Williston, ND is pricier by about 66%, 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 $3,214 per month in Williston, ND and $1,941 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 $2,143 in Williston, ND and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,282 per month in Williston, ND 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 $1,294, than in Williston, ND at $2,143. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williston, ND 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, Williston, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.