Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Charleston, SC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,323 per month in Charleston, SC vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,806 per month in Charleston, SC vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,288 per month in Charleston, SC vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Charleston, SC costs about 157% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Charleston, SC sits 142% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.96 $19.96

$11.71 MX$199

70.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$141 $141

$46.59 MX$791

202.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$11.65 MX$198

2.06%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$4.09 MX$69.5

46.70%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$1.37 MX$23.34

108.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.83 MX$14.16

171.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 $6.58

$3.35 MX$56.9

96.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.89 $7.89

$6.91 MX$117

14.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.73 MX$29.33

-33.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.26 MX$38.39

80.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.77 MX$30.05

158.19%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$2.73 MX$46.41

102.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.14 $23.14

$9.18 MX$156

152.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$8.92 MX$151

60.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.69 $20.69

$12.60 MX$214

64.21%

Apples (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$3.02 MX$51.3

167.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.57 MX$26.68

18.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$2.13 MX$36.10

144.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.26 MX$38.46

215.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$2.00 MX$34.04

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.06 MX$35.06

79.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.18 MX$20.04

143.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.20 MX$20.45

171.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.13 $10.13

$4.63 MX$78.7

118.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.90 $19.90

$10.69 MX$182

86.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.62 MX$27.50

69.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.88 MX$48.93

1.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.57 MX$9.74

261.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.6 $56.6

$29.83 MX$507

89.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$5.45 MX$92.5

-45.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 $1.20

$3.70 MX$62.9

-67.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.75 $31.75

$5.98 MX$102

430.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.55 MX$26.38

-39.35%

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

$35.2K $35.2K

$22.3K MX$379.2K

57.51%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.9K MX$440.7K

-3.72%

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

$230 $230

$89.1 MX$1,514

157.69%

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

$79.0 $79.0

$25.04 MX$425

215.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$31.50 MX$535

170.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.03 $46.03

$67.8 MX$1,151

-32.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.71 $19.71

$28.92 MX$491

-31.85%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$5.05 MX$85.8

171.88%

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

$1,244 $1,244

$225 MX$3,820

453.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K $28.0K

$4,222 MX$71.7K

562.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$47.44 MX$806

61.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.89 $46.89

$44.98 MX$764

4.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$82.0 MX$1,392

39.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$92.1 MX$1,564

48.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 $2,335

$1,069 MX$18.2K

118.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,730 $1,730

$405 MX$6,884

326.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,489 $3,489

$1,935 MX$32.9K

80.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$1,301 MX$22.1K

102.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,541 $5,541

$3,995 MX$67.9K

38.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,034 $3,034

$6,626 MX$112.5K

-54.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,548 $4,548

$749 MX$12.7K

507.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

11.45

-46.99%

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

Last update for Charleston, SC: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,335 in Charleston, SC versus $1,069 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 507% higher in Charleston, SC, 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 $141 in Charleston, SC versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $536 vs $277 – 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

Charleston, SC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, SC costs about 157% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,985 per month in Charleston, SC and $1,940 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,244 per month in Charleston, SC and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 94% more in Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Charleston, SC at $3,323. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,293 versus $3,323 in Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.