Cost of Living Comparison Between Winona, MN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Winona, MN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,500 per month in Winona, MN vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,665 per month in Winona, MN vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,830 per month in Winona, MN vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Winona, MN costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Winona, MN sits 87% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.17 $15.17
$11.94 MX$209
27.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7 $57.7
$42.75 MX$748
35.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 $10.69
$10.59 MX$185
0.94%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$3.62 MX$63.4
53.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.47 MX$25.69
19.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.94 MX$16.51
4.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.09 MX$54.1
30.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 $6.01
$4.46 MX$78.0
34.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.43 MX$24.94
-43.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.88 MX$32.97
-25.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$1.63 MX$28.50
182.82%
Eggs
$1.75 $1.75
$2.64 MX$46.26
-33.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.11 $14.11
$8.21 MX$144
71.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.77 $10.77
$8.29 MX$145
29.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.06 $16.06
$11.10 MX$194
44.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$2.65 MX$46.40
73.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 $0.63
$1.50 MX$26.26
-58.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$1.99 MX$34.79
164.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.08 MX$36.33
120.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.79 MX$31.29
39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.18 MX$38.09
2.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.08 MX$18.84
83.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.04 MX$18.15
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 $9.31
$3.97 MX$69.5
134.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.76 $15.76
$10.20 MX$179
54.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.73 MX$30.22
26.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.50 MX$43.71
31.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.52 MX$9.07
280.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.97 MX$472
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.14 MX$55.0
8.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.40 MX$42.04
-7.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.77 $44.77
$3.09 MX$54.0
1348.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.27 MX$22.28
-34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K $38.9K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
25.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
14.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$82.0 MX$1,435
139.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.63 $29.63
$22.45 MX$393
31.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$29.66 MX$519
75.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.24 $42.24
$51.9 MX$908
-18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67 MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.08 $10.08
$4.97 MX$87.0
102.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$977 $977
$198 MX$3,462
394.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
351.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 $63.5
$36.34 MX$636
74.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.9 $62.9
$40.05 MX$701
56.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 $130
$79.9 MX$1,398
62.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$88.9 MX$1,555
69.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 $1,571
$963 MX$16.9K
63.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$465 MX$8,133
194.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,638 $2,638
$1,596 MX$27.9K
65.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,222 $2,222
$1,209 MX$21.2K
83.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,658 $1,658
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-57.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,685 $1,685
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-73.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Winona, MN
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
11.42
-43.17%

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

Last update for Winona, MN: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,571 in Winona, MN versus $963 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 $58.0 in Winona, MN versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $251 – 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
Winona, MN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Winona, MN?
Yes – Winona, MN is pricier by about 94%, 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 $3,750 per month in Winona, MN and $1,930 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 Winona, MN vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,500 in Winona, MN and $1,287 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 $977 per month in Winona, MN 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 Winona, MN or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Winona, MN at $2,500. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Winona, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Winona, MN 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, Winona, MN 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, Winona, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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