Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marigot and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $2,312 in Marigot, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Marigot outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Marigot
🇸🇽 Sint Maarten
$2,312
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Marigot and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Marigot and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,312 in Marigot versus $1,210 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Marigot $2,312
  • Playa del Carmen $1,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,362 in Marigot versus $2,113 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Marigot $4,362
  • Playa del Carmen $2,113

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,412 in Marigot versus $3,016 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Marigot $6,412
  • Playa del Carmen $3,016

Living in Marigot is roughly 91% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Marigot is 71% above, Playa del Carmen is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$10.76 MX$199
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$43.03 MX$795
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.79 MX$218
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.87 MX$71.4
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 MX$25.29
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.84 MX$15.44
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.10 MX$57.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.07 MX$93.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.44 MX$26.55
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.23 MX$41.23
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.47 MX$27.17
-
Eggs
-
$2.53 MX$46.71
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$7.30 MX$135
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.86 MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.79 MX$236
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.90 MX$53.6
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.44 MX$26.53
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.55 MX$47.07
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.06 MX$38.03
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.00 MX$36.97
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.01 MX$37.07
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.19 MX$22.02
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 ANG 2.68
$1.26 MX$23.23
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.40 MX$81.4
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$9.59 MX$177
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.59 MX$29.41
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.81 MX$51.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.57 MX$10.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.82 MX$514
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.98 MX$92.1
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.50 MX$64.6
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.40 MX$99.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.47 MX$27.08
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.0K MX$387.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.9K MX$441.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$84.2 MX$1,556
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$23.99 MX$443
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.02 MX$536
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$63.0 MX$1,164
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.14 MX$539
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.94 MX$91.3
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$204 MX$3,763
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,941 MX$72.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$43.60 MX$806
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.12 MX$797
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$75.8 MX$1,400
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.6 MX$1,637
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,336 ANG 4,181
$1,008 MX$18.6K
131.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,294 ANG 4,106
$374 MX$6,911
513.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,598 ANG 11.8K
$1,708 MX$31.6K
286.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,379 ANG 11.4K
$1,106 MX$20.4K
476.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,944 MX$72.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,169 MX$114.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,005 ANG 5,380
$754 MX$13.9K
298.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.45
-

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

Last update for Marigot: October 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Marigot
$2.3K
Playa del Carmen
$374 83.7% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Marigot
$18 *
Playa del Carmen
$258 1339% $240
Eating Out
Marigot
- *
Playa del Carmen
$202
Getting Around
Marigot
- *
Playa del Carmen
$53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marigot
- *
Playa del Carmen
$137
Sport & Entertainment
Marigot
- *
Playa del Carmen
$73
Clothing & Footwear
Marigot
- *
Playa del Carmen
$113

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Marigot and $1,008 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marigot pays 298% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Good to know
🇸🇽 Marigot
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
22:04 10:04 PM
21:04 9:04 PM
1 h behind Marigot
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,286
149,923
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to ANG – Netherlands Antillean Guilder Converter

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.497 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Marigot Playa del Carmen 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Marigot
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Marigot vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marigot and in Playa del Carmen?
Marigot and Playa del Carmen differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($2,312 vs $1,210 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 298% higher in Marigot, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Marigot compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,336 in Marigot versus $1,008 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
Shoppers in Marigot pay roughly 1339% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Marigot compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,312 per month in Marigot versus $1,210 in Playa del Carmen – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,210 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,312 in Marigot, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Marigot. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Marigot or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,210 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Marigot. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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