Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,269 in Williston, ND, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Williston, ND, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Williston, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$2,269
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Williston, ND vs $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Williston, ND $2,269
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

A couple spends around $3,718 per month in Williston, ND vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Williston, ND $3,718
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $5,166 per month in Williston, ND vs $2,962 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Williston, ND $5,166
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Williston, ND costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Williston, ND sits 68% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 $20.07
$10.67 MX$198
88.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 $75.9
$43.80 MX$813
73.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 $11.36
$11.79 MX$219
-3.65%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$3.79 MX$70.3
37.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.30 MX$24.09
111.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.83 MX$15.48
142.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 $5.39
$3.15 MX$58.4
71.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$4.93 MX$91.6
38.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.41 MX$26.16
-31.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.20 MX$40.77
-7.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$1.47 MX$27.35
178.91%
Eggs
$4.12 $4.12
$2.50 MX$46.37
64.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.04 $30.04
$7.29 MX$135
312.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.64 $12.64
$7.95 MX$148
58.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.94 $13.94
$12.86 MX$239
8.40%
Apples (1kg)
$5.18 $5.18
$2.90 MX$53.8
78.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.38 MX$25.69
34.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.49 MX$46.26
70.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$2.03 MX$37.70
131.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.02 MX$37.61
41.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.90 MX$35.35
55.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.14 MX$21.25
85.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.24 MX$23.01
77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.15 $10.15
$4.27 MX$79.3
137.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.37 $15.37
$9.81 MX$182
56.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.59 MX$29.45
20.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.75 MX$51.0
35.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.51 MX$9.56
258.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.8 $68.8
$27.39 MX$509
151.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 $3.00
$4.76 MX$88.4
-36.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.25 MX$60.3
-53.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.58 $32.58
$5.39 MX$100
504.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.53 MX$28.38
-30.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$21.2K MX$393.9K
14.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$23.3K MX$432.0K
6.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$83.5 MX$1,550
136.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$23.19 MX$431
153.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5 $74.5
$27.61 MX$513
169.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 $41.64
$56.4 MX$1,048
-26.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.19 MX$524
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$5.00 MX$92.9
172.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$207 MX$3,846
556.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.1K $20.1K
$5,231 MX$97.1K
283.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$43.45 MX$807
23.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.89 $40.89
$42.54 MX$790
-3.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 $95.6
$72.8 MX$1,351
31.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$88.4 MX$1,641
16.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$997 $997
$995 MX$18.5K
0.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 $901
$382 MX$7,102
135.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 $2,057
$1,674 MX$31.1K
22.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,154 $2,154
$1,081 MX$20.1K
99.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,237 $2,237
$3,909 MX$72.6K
-42.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,273 $2,273
$6,138 MX$114.0K
-62.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williston, ND
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,795 $5,795
$832 MX$15.5K
596.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
11.45
-42.45%

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

Last update for Williston, ND: November 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Williston, ND
$901
Playa del Carmen
$382 57.6% $519
Groceries & Markets
Williston, ND
$433
Playa del Carmen
$257 40.5% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williston, ND
$330
Playa del Carmen
$134 59.4% $196
Eating Out
Williston, ND
$317
Playa del Carmen
$200 36.8% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Williston, ND
$132
Playa del Carmen
$111 15.8% $21
Getting Around
Williston, ND
$87
Playa del Carmen
$50 41.8% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Williston, ND
$69
Playa del Carmen
$66 3.6% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $997 in Williston, ND versus $995 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 in Williston, ND are about 7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Williston, ND versus $44 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $257 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Williston, ND
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
07:35 7:35 AM
08:35 8:35 AM
1 h ahead of Williston, ND
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
30,000
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.79 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Williston, ND Playa del Carmen 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Williston, ND
  • 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
Williston, ND vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Williston, ND?
Yes – Williston, ND is pricier by about 89%, 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 $3,403 per month in Williston, ND and $1,804 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Williston, ND and Playa del Carmen?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $997 in Williston, ND and $995 in Playa del Carmen. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Williston, ND and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,269 in Williston, ND and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 47% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 60% 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 Williston, ND or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Williston, ND at $2,269. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williston, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Williston, ND or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Playa del Carmen to $2,269 in Williston, ND. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Williston, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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