Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Canaries and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in the Canaries: $185 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year.

58

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
Learn more

Playa del Carmen Living Index

Jump to prices

Canaries

🇱🇨 Saint Lucia

$185

/mo nomad

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,204

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $185 per month in the Canaries vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Canaries $185
Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $278 per month in the Canaries vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Canaries $278
Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $370 per month in the Canaries vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Canaries $370
Playa del Carmen $2,959

Canaries is about 85% cheaper than Playa del Carmen.

Both Canaries and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Canaries 86% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.92 MX$205

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.37 MX$814

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 MX$221

Cappuccino

$3.81 MX$71.5

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MX$24.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 MX$14.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.17 MX$59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 MX$92.7

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 MX$26.40

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$41.62

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 MX$26.61

Eggs

$2.52 MX$47.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 MX$136

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 MX$238

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MX$52.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 MX$25.68

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MX$47.89

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$39.86

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 MX$35.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MX$21.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 MX$22.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MX$80.6

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 MX$187

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$29.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 MX$50.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$10.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.62 MX$500

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 MX$93.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 MX$62.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.36 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MX$27.11

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K MX$388.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$440.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.8 MX$1,592

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.41 MX$439

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.66 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 MX$1,071

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.91 MX$543

Cinema Ticket

$5.14 MX$96.5

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$207 MX$3,878

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,927 MX$73.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.35 MX$814

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.44 MX$778

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MX$1,393

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,676

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$183 EC$494

$980 MX$18.4K

-81.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 EC$500

$381 MX$7,150

-51.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$297 EC$803

$1,708 MX$32.1K

-82.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 EC$1,000

$1,075 MX$20.2K

-65.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$186 EC$502

$3,943 MX$74.0K

-95.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$259 EC$699

$6,158 MX$115.6K

-95.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$735 MX$13.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for the Canaries: October 24, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$381 31.6%

Groceries & Markets

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$255 21.2%

Eating Out

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$202 16.8%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.4%

Clothing & Footwear

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$112 9.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$67 5.6%

Getting Around

Canaries

–

Playa del Carmen

$50 4.2%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $183 in the Canaries versus $980 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.

Good to know

🇱🇨 Canaries

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🕒 Local time

22:37 10:37 PM

21:37 9:37 PM

1 h behind the Canaries

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,862

149,923

💱 Currency

East Caribbean Dollar XCD $

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

1 XCD = 0.37 USD

1 XCD = 0.332 EUR

100 MXN = 5.33 USD

100 MXN = 4.77 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 East Caribbean Dollar ($)

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.01 XCD (1 XCD = 0.332 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

USD to XCD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Canaries Playa del Carmen 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Canaries
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

Canaries vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 550% more than the Canaries, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $278 per month in the Canaries and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in the Canaries, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $183 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in the Canaries, where all-in costs run around $185, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Canaries it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $185 in the Canaries to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.