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 $2,987 per month in Charleston, SC vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,266 per month in Charleston, SC vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,544 per month in Charleston, SC vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Charleston, SC costs about 130% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Charleston, SC sits 123% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$11.73 MX$203

56.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$41.62 MX$721

88.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.64 MX$184

-4.32%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$3.52 MX$61.0

42.05%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$1.51 MX$26.17

60.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.97 MX$16.87

93.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.95 MX$51.1

109.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.45 MX$77.2

74.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.38 MX$23.97

-26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$1.89 MX$32.78

102.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.64 MX$28.37

93.90%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$2.51 MX$43.42

86.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$8.34 MX$145

67.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$8.34 MX$145

80.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$10.73 MX$186

60.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$2.60 MX$45.12

120.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.46 MX$25.25

13.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$1.90 MX$32.94

238.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.08 MX$35.98

94.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.78 MX$30.77

115.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.19 MX$37.87

30.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.04 MX$18.02

73.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.08 MX$18.66

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.30 $7.30

$4.08 MX$70.7

78.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 $19.70

$10.32 MX$179

90.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.71 MX$29.67

8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.58 MX$44.63

23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.51 MX$8.83

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.5 $57.5

$26.46 MX$459

117.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.26 MX$56.5

-9.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.49 MX$43.17

-35.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.70 $19.70

$3.25 MX$56.3

506.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.31 MX$22.65

-41.22%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

9.57%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

4.97%

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

$143 $143

$82.9 MX$1,436

71.96%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$22.22 MX$385

142.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$29.34 MX$508

149.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 $29.48

$51.6 MX$895

-42.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 $18.21

$18.32 MX$317

-0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 $13.10

$5.07 MX$87.8

158.38%

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

$1,326 $1,326

$201 MX$3,480

560.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

373.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 $49.37

$36.92 MX$640

33.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.46 $35.46

$39.79 MX$689

-10.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$78.5 MX$1,360

17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$87.1 MX$1,509

78.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,511 $2,511

$973 MX$16.9K

158.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$468 MX$8,105

268.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,406 $4,406

$1,641 MX$28.4K

168.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$1,221 MX$21.2K

121.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,667 $5,667

$3,946 MX$68.4K

43.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,973 $2,973

$6,498 MX$112.6K

-54.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,627 $4,627

$664 MX$11.5K

596.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for Charleston, SC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,511 in Charleston, SC 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 597% 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 $79.0 in Charleston, SC versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $436 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

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

Charleston, SC costs about 130% 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 $4,480 per month in Charleston, SC and $1,945 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 $1,326 per month in Charleston, SC and $201 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 75% 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 $1,297, than in Charleston, SC at $2,987. 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 $1,297 versus $2,987 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.