Cost of Living Comparison Between Yuma, AZ and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Yuma, AZ and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,111 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,091 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,071 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Yuma, AZ costs about 63% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Yuma, AZ sits 58% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.84 $14.84
$11.73 MX$203
26.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.65 $44.65
$41.62 MX$719
7.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.46 $9.46
$10.64 MX$184
-11.09%
Cappuccino
$3.89 $3.89
$3.52 MX$60.8
10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.51 MX$26.09
60.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.97 MX$16.82
102.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.15 $5.15
$2.95 MX$51.0
74.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.45 MX$77.0
11.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.38 MX$23.90
-39.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.89 MX$32.69
94.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$1.64 MX$28.29
104.88%
Eggs
$4.59 $4.59
$2.51 MX$43.30
82.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 $9.43
$8.34 MX$144
13.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$8.34 MX$144
14.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.64 $14.64
$10.73 MX$185
36.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$2.60 MX$45.00
85.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.46 MX$25.18
-10.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$1.90 MX$32.84
171.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.08 MX$35.88
40.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.78 MX$30.68
52.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.19 MX$37.76
53.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.04 MX$17.97
73.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.08 MX$18.60
96.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 $9.98
$4.08 MX$70.5
144.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 $14.86
$10.32 MX$178
43.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.71 MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.58 MX$44.50
-3.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.51 MX$8.81
294.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.05 $46.05
$26.46 MX$457
74.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.26 MX$56.4
50.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.49 MX$43.05
-45.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.25 $29.25
$3.25 MX$56.1
800.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.31 MX$22.59
-31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$30.3K MX$523.2K
-20.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$23.4K MX$404.9K
3.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$82.9 MX$1,432
141.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$22.22 MX$384
140.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 $71.9
$29.34 MX$507
144.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.54 $33.54
$51.6 MX$892
-35.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.07 $15.07
$18.32 MX$317
-17.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 $9.57
$5.07 MX$87.5
88.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,036 $1,036
$201 MX$3,470
415.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.2K $23.2K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
344.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.60 $45.60
$36.92 MX$638
23.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 $51.5
$39.79 MX$688
29.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.0 $69.0
$78.5 MX$1,356
-12.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 $73.1
$87.1 MX$1,505
-16.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 $1,003
$973 MX$16.8K
3.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$928 $928
$468 MX$8,082
98.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,648 $1,648
$1,641 MX$28.4K
0.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,667 $1,667
$1,221 MX$21.1K
36.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,384 $2,384
$3,946 MX$68.2K
-39.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,344 $2,344
$6,498 MX$112.3K
-63.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,712 $3,712
$664 MX$11.5K
459.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%

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

Last update for Yuma, AZ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Yuma, AZ versus $973 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 459% higher in Yuma, AZ, 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 $45.00 in Yuma, AZ versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $249 – 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
Yuma, AZ vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Yuma, AZ?
Yes – Yuma, AZ is pricier by about 63%, 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 $3,167 per month in Yuma, AZ and $1,945 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 Yuma, AZ vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,111 in Yuma, AZ and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 74% 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 Yuma, AZ or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Yuma, AZ at $2,111. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yuma, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yuma, AZ 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 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, Yuma, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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