😐A single person spends $2,464 per month in Wilmington, OH vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,520 per month in Wilmington, OH vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,576 per month in Wilmington, OH vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Wilmington, OH costs about 95% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Wilmington, OH sits 84% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.16$7.16
$11.67MX$202
-38.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8$70.8
$41.88MX$726
68.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.05$10.05
$10.40MX$180
-3.37%
Cappuccino
$3.08$3.08
$3.61MX$62.6
-14.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$1.47MX$25.45
-30.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$0.91MX$15.80
94.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.12$4.12
$3.03MX$52.6
35.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04$3.04
$4.47MX$77.4
-31.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70$0.70
$1.38MX$23.83
-49.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87$2.87
$1.84MX$31.93
55.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.52$4.52
$1.61MX$27.82
180.75%
Eggs
$3.21$3.21
$2.57MX$44.52
24.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97$8.97
$8.49MX$147
5.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.04$11.04
$8.49MX$147
30.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.43$16.43
$10.99MX$190
49.50%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$2.73MX$47.25
76.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24$1.24
$1.50MX$25.92
-17.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$1.96MX$33.93
78.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$2.12MX$36.70
104.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.34$3.34
$1.86MX$32.30
79.57%
Onion(1kg)
$3.31$3.31
$2.17MX$37.67
52.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.05$2.05
$1.07MX$18.59
91.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$1.05MX$18.18
77.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.07$8.07
$4.19MX$72.6
92.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.88$12.88
$10.28MX$178
25.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71$2.71
$1.67MX$28.87
62.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15$3.15
$2.49MX$43.12
26.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.06$2.06
$0.54MX$9.37
281.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.27MX$455
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.14$5.14
$3.10MX$53.8
65.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.74$1.74
$2.46MX$42.66
-29.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.30$29.30
$3.24MX$56.1
804.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80$0.80
$1.26MX$21.83
-36.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K$23.3K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
10.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204$204
$84.0MX$1,456
142.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.0$70.0
$22.21MX$385
215.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0$61.0
$29.65MX$514
105.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.28$42.28
$52.6MX$912
-19.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.80$14.80
$4.95MX$85.7
198.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,146$1,146
$198MX$3,438
477.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.4K$25.4K
$5,322MX$92.2K
376.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2$55.2
$35.95MX$623
53.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.15$35.15
$40.06MX$694
-12.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104$104
$78.8MX$1,365
32.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161$161
$86.5MX$1,499
85.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585$1,585
$977MX$16.9K
62.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,346$1,346
$471MX$8,158
186.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,644$2,644
$1,595MX$27.6K
65.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,250$2,250
$1,215MX$21.1K
85.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,742$2,742
$4,032MX$69.9K
-31.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,534$2,534
$6,579MX$114.0K
-61.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilmington, OH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,471$2,471
$714MX$12.4K
246.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wilmington, OH: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,585 in Wilmington, OH versus $977 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 246% higher in Wilmington, OH, 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 $71 in Wilmington, OH versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $252 – 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
Wilmington, OH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Wilmington, OH?
Yes – Wilmington, OH is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,696 per month in Wilmington, OH and $1,891 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Wilmington, OH vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,464 in Wilmington, OH and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,146 per month in Wilmington, OH and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Wilmington, OH or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Wilmington, OH at $2,464. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wilmington, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wilmington, OH 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 safer, Wilmington, OH or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wilmington, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Wilmington, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared