Cost of Living Comparison Between Moose Jaw, SK and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Moose Jaw, SK and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,772 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,818 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,864 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Moose Jaw, SK is roughly 36% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moose Jaw, SK is 29% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.78 CA$24.66

$11.96 MX$203

48.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 CA$95.7

$47.38 MX$804

45.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.19 CA$12.74

$11.75 MX$199

-21.79%

Cappuccino

$2.67 CA$3.70

$4.12 MX$70.0

-35.19%

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

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.40 MX$23.74

45.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$0.91 MX$15.48

27.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 CA$6.06

$3.21 MX$54.4

36.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 CA$6.68

$7.07 MX$120

-31.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.68 MX$28.44

-11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 CA$2.86

$2.15 MX$36.48

-4.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 CA$6.88

$1.77 MX$30.10

180.23%

Eggs

$2.99 CA$4.15

$2.82 MX$47.76

6.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 CA$10.98

$9.20 MX$156

-13.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 CA$13.09

$9.23 MX$157

2.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.72 CA$23.19

$12.64 MX$214

32.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$2.95 MX$50.1

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 CA$1.78

$1.58 MX$26.79

-18.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.38

$2.22 MX$37.70

9.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 CA$4.25

$2.36 MX$40.09

29.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$1.99 MX$33.81

45.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$1.98 MX$33.58

11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.24 MX$21.04

125.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.21 MX$20.55

20.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.88 CA$17.86

$4.60 MX$78.1

180.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.96 CA$19.37

$10.52 MX$178

32.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.03

$1.69 MX$28.70

71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 CA$4.86

$2.77 MX$47.06

26.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$0.60 MX$10.22

350.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.0 CA$80.4

$29.70 MX$504

95.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 CA$5.90

$5.24 MX$88.8

-18.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 CA$1.14

$3.65 MX$61.9

-77.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.52 CA$20.14

$5.78 MX$98.1

151.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.51

$1.54 MX$26.09

-29.22%

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

$29.1K CA$40.4K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

27.65%

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

$21.2K CA$29.4K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-17.87%

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

$209 CA$289

$90.7 MX$1,538

130.16%

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

$41.22 CA$57.2

$25.19 MX$427

63.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 CA$86.6

$31.75 MX$539

96.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.35 CA$65.7

$68.8 MX$1,167

-31.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$10.34 CA$14.34

$4.86 MX$82.5

112.76%

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

$511 CA$709

$226 MX$3,828

126.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K CA$20.5K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

253.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 CA$70.7

$47.38 MX$804

7.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.15 CA$62.6

$43.45 MX$737

3.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 CA$118

$80.2 MX$1,361

5.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$91.4 MX$1,550

21.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 CA$1,117

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-25.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 CA$879

$409 MX$6,933

55.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,542 CA$2,138

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-21.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 CA$1,896

$1,281 MX$21.7K

6.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,704 CA$3,751

$773 MX$13.1K

249.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

11.45

-58.78%

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

Last update for Moose Jaw, SK: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Moose Jaw, SK and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moose Jaw, SK pays 250% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $69.0 in Moose Jaw, SK vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Moose Jaw, SK vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 250% higher in Moose Jaw, SK, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 95% less than in Moose Jaw, SK. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $511 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,772 in Moose Jaw, SK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Moose Jaw, SK. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Moose Jaw, SK, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Moose Jaw, SK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.