Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Escazu is 1.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 63.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Escazu is 63.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05 ₡5,534
$11.99 MX$227
-7.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 ₡29.7K
$42.47 MX$803
39.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 ₡4,945
$10.47 MX$198
-5.64%
Cappuccino
$3.87 ₡1,937
$3.6 MX$68.2
7.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₡987
$1.44 MX$27.16
36.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₡822
$0.89 MX$16.79
84.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.02 ₡1,511
$3.09 MX$58.5
-2.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 ₡2,376
$4.58 MX$86.6
3.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ₡999
$1.38 MX$26.04
44.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 ₡1,408
$1.85 MX$34.9
51.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$1.57 MX$29.68
35.67%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,492
$2.55 MX$48.3
16.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 ₡4,909
$8.61 MX$163
13.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.26 ₡4,636
$8.54 MX$161
8.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.9 ₡6,960
$10.98 MX$208
26.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 ₡2,221
$2.72 MX$51.4
63.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡725
$1.51 MX$28.57
-3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 ₡2,093
$1.88 MX$35.63
122.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.2 ₡1,604
$2.19 MX$41.42
46.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,731
$1.87 MX$35.3
85.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 ₡1,565
$2.19 MX$41.37
42.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ₡471
$1.07 MX$20.23
-12.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,401
$1.09 MX$20.64
156.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 ₡2,562
$3.96 MX$74.9
29.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.22 ₡8,621
$8.86 MX$167
94.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₡876
$1.72 MX$32.53
1.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,333
$2.61 MX$49.37
1.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ₡445
$0.52 MX$9.74
71.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.69 ₡848
$3.24 MX$61.2
-47.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 ₡923
$2.38 MX$44.94
-22.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.71 ₡3,858
$3.11 MX$58.7
147.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡696
$1.31 MX$24.85
6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₡15.4M
$30.3K MX$573K
1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡16.3M
$24K MX$453.6K
35.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.3 ₡33.2K
$84.2 MX$1,592
-21.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.76 ₡12.9K
$22.14 MX$419
16.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2 ₡25.6K
$30.14 MX$570
69.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$106 ₡53.1K
$52 MX$983
104.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.05 ₡5,033
$18.72 MX$354
-46.31%
Cinema Ticket
$10.1 ₡5,055
$5.07 MX$95.9
99.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 ₡288K
$200 MX$3,787
187.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K ₡7M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
160.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 ₡31.7K
$35.74 MX$676
77.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 ₡25.8K
$39.8 MX$753
29.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡61.8K
$79 MX$1,493
56.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡52.9K
$88.4 MX$1,671
19.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ₡529.8K
$965 MX$18.3K
9.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 ₡543.5K
$474 MX$8,968
128.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 ₡820.4K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-0.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 ₡643.9K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
7.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,579 ₡790.2K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-48.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,127 ₡564.2K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-85.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Escazu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,574 ₡787.9K
$792 MX$15K
98.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
11.42
-10.95%

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

Last update for Escazu: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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