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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 23.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 71.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 63.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21 $18.21
$11.99 MX$227
51.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$42.47 MX$803
42.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$10.47 MX$198
13.66%
Cappuccino
$3.82 $3.82
$3.6 MX$68.2
6.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.44 MX$27.16
64.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.89 MX$16.79
108.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.09 MX$58.5
42.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.6 $5.6
$4.58 MX$86.6
22.27%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.38 MX$26.04
-36.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.85 MX$34.9
41.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.57 MX$29.68
131.85%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.55 MX$48.3
67.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$8.61 MX$163
9.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$8.54 MX$161
52.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.61 $22.61
$10.98 MX$208
105.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.72 MX$51.4
91.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.51 MX$28.57
21.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$1.88 MX$35.63
180.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.19 MX$41.42
49.32%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.87 MX$35.3
70.59%
Onion (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$2.19 MX$41.37
111.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.07 MX$20.23
85.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.09 MX$20.64
73.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$3.96 MX$74.9
115.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$8.86 MX$167
67.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.72 MX$32.53
17.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.61 MX$49.37
1.15%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.52 MX$9.74
276.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.68 $40.68
$26.59 MX$503
52.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 $2.03
$3.24 MX$61.2
-37.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.38 MX$44.94
-36.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.06 $18.06
$3.11 MX$58.7
480.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.31 MX$24.85
-41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$24K MX$453.6K
6.63%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$84.2 MX$1,592
159.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$22.14 MX$419
142.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$30.14 MX$570
99.87%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.01 $40.01
$52 MX$983
-23.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.01 $7.01
$18.72 MX$354
-62.55%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$5.07 MX$95.9
199.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$200 MX$3,787
614.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K $22.3K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
318.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$35.74 MX$676
58.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 $35.31
$39.8 MX$753
-11.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$79 MX$1,493
1.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$88.4 MX$1,671
31.06%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$965 MX$18.3K
35.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 $904
$474 MX$8,968
90.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$1,653 MX$31.2K
33.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$1,202 MX$22.7K
7.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,827 $1,827
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-40.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 $1,750
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-76.76%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,526 $3,526
$792 MX$15K
345.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
11.42
-42.73%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.