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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,254 per month in Jamestown vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,736 per month in Jamestown vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,218 per month in Jamestown vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jamestown is about 3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jamestown and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jamestown 6% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.07 SHP 11.91

$11.94 MX$209

34.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.49 SHP 35.93

$42.75 MX$748

13.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 SHP 6.59

$10.59 MX$185

-16.05%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SHP 2.21

$3.62 MX$63.4

-17.68%

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

$1.14 SHP 0.84

$1.47 MX$25.69

-22.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 SHP 0.89

$0.94 MX$16.51

28.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.69 SHP 3.48

$3.09 MX$54.1

51.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 SHP 1.95

$4.46 MX$78.0

-40.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 SHP 1.40

$1.43 MX$24.94

32.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 SHP 1.22

$1.88 MX$32.97

-12.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 SHP 1.03

$1.63 MX$28.50

-14.72%

Eggs

$4.32 SHP 3.20

$2.64 MX$46.26

63.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 SHP 5.98

$8.21 MX$144

-1.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 SHP 8.00

$8.29 MX$145

30.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 SHP 8.00

$11.10 MX$194

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 SHP 2.06

$1.08 MX$18.84

157.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 SHP 1.67

$1.04 MX$18.15

116.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 SHP 8.17

$3.97 MX$69.5

177.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.62 SHP 30.10

$26.97 MX$472

50.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 SHP 2.07

$3.14 MX$55.0

-11.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$109 SHP 80.8

$29.66 MX$519

267.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.90 SHP 5.11

$51.9 MX$908

-86.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.55 SHP 30.79

$36.34 MX$636

14.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.61 SHP 15.28

$40.05 MX$701

-48.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.98 SHP 34.81

$79.9 MX$1,398

-41.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$676 SHP 501

$963 MX$16.9K

-29.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 SHP 461

$465 MX$8,133

33.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 SHP 519

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-56.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 SHP 532

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-40.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.2

11.42

-45.71%

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

Last update for Jamestown: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $676 in Jamestown versus $963 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Jamestown versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Jamestown vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Jamestown wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jamestown vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,881 per month in Jamestown and $1,930 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 Jamestown, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Jamestown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Playa del Carmen, 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 Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $1,254, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jamestown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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