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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Johannesburg is 17.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 7.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Johannesburg is 5.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.4 RΒ 203
$11.99 MX$227
-4.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.89 RΒ 798
$42.47 MX$803
5.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 RΒ 88.7
$10.47 MX$198
-52.44%
Cappuccino
$2.18 RΒ 38.8
$3.6 MX$68.2
-39.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 RΒ 18.45
$1.44 MX$27.16
-27.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 RΒ 13.39
$0.89 MX$16.79
-15.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.7 RΒ 48.05
$3.09 MX$58.5
-12.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 RΒ 45.29
$4.58 MX$86.6
-44.32%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 RΒ 21.39
$1.38 MX$26.04
-13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.1 RΒ 19.5
$1.85 MX$34.9
-40.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 RΒ 30.51
$1.57 MX$29.68
9.55%
Eggs
$2.47 RΒ 43.92
$2.55 MX$48.3
-3.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.04 RΒ 143
$8.61 MX$163
-6.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.91 RΒ 87.4
$8.54 MX$161
-42.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 RΒ 120
$10.98 MX$208
-38.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 RΒ 30.11
$2.72 MX$51.4
-37.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 RΒ 27.16
$1.51 MX$28.57
1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 RΒ 26.22
$1.88 MX$35.63
-21.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 RΒ 28.14
$2.19 MX$41.42
-27.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 RΒ 25.8
$1.87 MX$35.3
-22.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 RΒ 24.78
$2.19 MX$41.37
-36.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 RΒ 18.64
$1.07 MX$20.23
-1.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 RΒ 16.87
$1.09 MX$20.64
-12.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 RΒ 54.1
$3.96 MX$74.9
-23.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.99 RΒ 107
$8.86 MX$167
-32.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 RΒ 23.23
$1.72 MX$32.53
-23.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 RΒ 29.74
$2.61 MX$49.37
-36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.7 RΒ 30.26
$0.52 MX$9.74
226.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.1 RΒ 1,265
$26.59 MX$503
167.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 RΒ 19.48
$3.24 MX$61.2
-66.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 RΒ 16.73
$2.38 MX$44.94
-60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.1 RΒ 72.9
$3.11 MX$58.7
31.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 RΒ 21.58
$1.31 MX$24.85
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K RΒ 396.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
-26.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K RΒ 433.4K
$24K MX$453.6K
1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 RΒ 2,069
$84.2 MX$1,592
38.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.29 RΒ 717
$22.14 MX$419
81.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.05 RΒ 748
$30.14 MX$570
39.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.62 RΒ 616
$52 MX$983
-33.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.93 RΒ 248
$18.72 MX$354
-25.59%
Cinema Ticket
$7.23 RΒ 129
$5.07 MX$95.9
42.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$206 RΒ 3,665
$200 MX$3,787
2.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,981 RΒ 88.6K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-6.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 RΒ 899
$35.74 MX$676
41.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58 RΒ 597
$39.8 MX$753
-15.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.2 RΒ 1,621
$79 MX$1,493
15.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 RΒ 1,397
$88.4 MX$1,671
-11.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 RΒ 7,519
$965 MX$18.3K
-56.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 RΒ 6,592
$474 MX$8,968
-21.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 RΒ 16K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-45.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 RΒ 12.3K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-42.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 RΒ 19.8K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-63.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$748 RΒ 13.3K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-90.07%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Johannesburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 RΒ 28.2K
$792 MX$15K
100.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.51
11.42
0.79%

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

Last update for Johannesburg: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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