Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Island Garden City of Samal is 46.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 44.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Island Garden City of Samal is 29.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 52.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.3 โ‚ฑ72.6
$11.99 MX$227
-89.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 โ‚ฑ687
$42.47 MX$803
-70.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.68 โ‚ฑ261
$10.47 MX$198
-55.30%
Cappuccino
$2.1 โ‚ฑ117
$3.6 MX$68.2
-41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 โ‚ฑ49.1
$1.44 MX$27.16
-38.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 โ‚ฑ29.47
$0.89 MX$16.79
-40.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 โ‚ฑ80.7
$3.09 MX$58.5
-53.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 โ‚ฑ99.6
$4.58 MX$86.6
-60.92%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 โ‚ฑ68.4
$1.38 MX$26.04
-10.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.6 โ‚ฑ33.49
$1.85 MX$34.9
-67.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 โ‚ฑ37.65
$1.57 MX$29.68
-56.69%
Eggs
$1.99 โ‚ฑ111
$2.55 MX$48.3
-21.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 โ‚ฑ332
$8.61 MX$163
-30.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 โ‚ฑ179
$8.54 MX$161
-62.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.18 โ‚ฑ288
$10.98 MX$208
-52.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 โ‚ฑ158
$2.72 MX$51.4
4.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 โ‚ฑ65.3
$1.51 MX$28.57
-22.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 โ‚ฑ133
$1.88 MX$35.63
26.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 โ‚ฑ67.4
$2.19 MX$41.42
-44.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 โ‚ฑ121
$1.87 MX$35.3
16.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 โ‚ฑ86.6
$2.19 MX$41.37
-29.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 โ‚ฑ51.3
$1.07 MX$20.23
-14.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 โ‚ฑ27.49
$1.09 MX$20.64
-55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.6 โ‚ฑ145
$3.96 MX$74.9
-34.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.19 โ‚ฑ233
$8.86 MX$167
-52.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 โ‚ฑ72.8
$1.72 MX$32.53
-23.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 โ‚ฑ68.4
$2.61 MX$49.37
-52.87%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 โ‚ฑ14.47
$0.52 MX$9.74
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 โ‚ฑ40.13
$3.24 MX$61.2
-77.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.1 โ‚ฑ5.49
$2.38 MX$44.94
-95.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 โ‚ฑ120
$3.11 MX$58.7
-30.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 โ‚ฑ63.7
$1.31 MX$24.85
-12.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K โ‚ฑ1.3M
$30.3K MX$573K
-25.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21K โ‚ฑ1.2M
$24K MX$453.6K
-12.61%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.7 โ‚ฑ5,498
$84.2 MX$1,592
17.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.59 โ‚ฑ1,870
$22.14 MX$419
51.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.58 โ‚ฑ1,981
$30.14 MX$570
18.05%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.52 โ‚ฑ1,922
$52 MX$983
-33.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.47 โ‚ฑ249
$5.07 MX$95.9
-11.83%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 โ‚ฑ6,651
$200 MX$3,787
-40.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,340 โ‚ฑ241.6K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-18.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.14 โ‚ฑ2,569
$35.74 MX$676
29.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.33 โ‚ฑ1,689
$39.8 MX$753
-23.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.2 โ‚ฑ4,244
$79 MX$1,493
-3.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 โ‚ฑ3,803
$88.4 MX$1,671
-22.70%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 โ‚ฑ14.6K
$965 MX$18.3K
-72.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 โ‚ฑ9,981
$474 MX$8,968
-62.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 โ‚ฑ32.4K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-64.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 โ‚ฑ21.9K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-67.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,413 โ‚ฑ134.3K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-21.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Island Garden City of Samal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$792 MX$15K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
11.42
-16.29%

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

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: October 26, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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