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 $2,101 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,125 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,148 per month in Yuma, AZ vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

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

Yuma, AZ sits 56% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05 $15.05
$11.61 MX$201
29.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.79 $43.79
$42.75 MX$742
2.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 $9.26
$10.60 MX$184
-12.64%
Cappuccino
$3.93 $3.93
$3.59 MX$62.3
9.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.45 MX$25.21
68.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.90 MX$15.58
118.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.03 MX$52.6
64.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.56 MX$79.2
7.24%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.45 MX$25.20
-42.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 $3.50
$1.83 MX$31.72
91.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.61 MX$27.92
107.45%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$2.54 MX$44.05
79.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.63 $9.63
$8.54 MX$148
12.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.80 $9.80
$8.47 MX$147
15.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 $14.53
$10.86 MX$189
33.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$2.73 MX$47.37
78.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.49 MX$25.91
-13.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$1.94 MX$33.73
173.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.16 MX$37.57
37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.85 MX$32.05
49.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.19 MX$38.00
50.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.07 MX$18.62
70.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.08 MX$18.81
96.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19 $10.19
$4.06 MX$70.5
150.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.85 $14.85
$10.46 MX$182
41.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.65 MX$28.71
6.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.55 MX$44.23
-3.53%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.56 MX$9.65
266.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.71 $45.71
$26.20 MX$455
74.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 $5.03
$3.14 MX$54.5
60.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$2.37 MX$41.17
-43.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.03 $29.03
$3.24 MX$56.2
795.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.31 MX$22.81
-29.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$30.5K MX$530.2K
-21.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$23.8K MX$413.6K
3.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 $205
$83.1 MX$1,443
146.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$22.15 MX$385
143.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$29.37 MX$510
142.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.47 $33.47
$51.2 MX$889
-34.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.98 $14.98
$18.69 MX$324
-19.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.76 $9.76
$4.89 MX$84.9
99.59%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,025 $1,025
$199 MX$3,449
416.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$5,207 MX$90.4K
347.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.60 $45.60
$35.93 MX$624
26.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 $51.8
$39.39 MX$684
31.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.3 $67.3
$80.3 MX$1,394
-16.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5 $71.5
$87.6 MX$1,520
-18.31%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,007 $1,007
$963 MX$16.7K
4.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$937 $937
$482 MX$8,370
94.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,631 $1,631
$1,645 MX$28.6K
-0.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,658 $1,658
$1,192 MX$20.7K
39.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,343 $2,343
$3,957 MX$68.7K
-40.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,384 $2,384
$6,513 MX$113.1K
-63.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Yuma, AZ
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,470 $3,470
$726 MX$12.6K
377.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
11.42
-43.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Yuma, AZ: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,007 in Yuma, AZ 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.

Salaries run about 378% 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 $44 in Yuma, AZ versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $253 โ€“ 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 โ€“ Yuma, AZ 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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,152 per month in Yuma, AZ and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 $2,101 in Yuma, AZ and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ 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 $1,262, than in Yuma, AZ at $2,101. 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 โ€“ 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.

Yuma, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities