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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,330 in Nassau versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,798 in Nassau versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,266 in Nassau versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nassau is roughly 242% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nassau is 217% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$38.34 BSD 38.34

$11.60 MX$200

230.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$198 BSD 198

$47.11 MX$812

321.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 BSD 12.04

$11.88 MX$205

1.35%

Cappuccino

$5.45 BSD 5.45

$3.98 MX$68.6

36.93%

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

$3.39 BSD 3.39

$1.43 MX$24.60

137.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 BSD 1.97

$0.82 MX$14.22

140.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 BSD 5.12

$3.19 MX$55.0

60.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 BSD 9.15

$6.79 MX$117

34.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.95 BSD 3.95

$1.68 MX$28.89

135.12%

White Bread (500g)

$5.79 BSD 5.79

$2.20 MX$37.88

163.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.83 BSD 6.83

$1.71 MX$29.45

299.42%

Eggs

$7.75 BSD 7.75

$2.74 MX$47.26

182.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 BSD 10.54

$9.58 MX$165

10.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.48 BSD 18.48

$9.01 MX$155

105.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.96 BSD 26.96

$12.81 MX$221

110.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.60 BSD 5.60

$2.89 MX$49.81

93.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.47 BSD 3.47

$1.50 MX$25.81

131.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.22 BSD 5.22

$2.15 MX$37.03

142.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$10.77 BSD 10.77

$2.26 MX$38.96

376.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 BSD 2.89

$1.98 MX$34.15

45.96%

Onion (1kg)

$5.20 BSD 5.20

$1.99 MX$34.30

161.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.78 BSD 4.78

$1.23 MX$21.28

288.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 BSD 2.82

$1.20 MX$20.63

135.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.28 BSD 15.28

$4.55 MX$78.5

235.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$33.74 BSD 33.74

$10.37 MX$179

225.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.49 BSD 5.49

$1.62 MX$27.91

238.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 BSD 4.94

$2.88 MX$49.67

71.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 BSD 2.43

$0.60 MX$10.35

305.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$148 BSD 148

$28.80 MX$497

414.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.15 BSD 8.15

$5.39 MX$92.9

51.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 BSD 3.08

$3.73 MX$64.3

-17.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.0 BSD 50.0

$5.77 MX$99.5

766.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BSD 1.50

$1.54 MX$26.48

-2.60%

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

$30.2K BSD 30.2K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

33.85%

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

$43.6K BSD 43.6K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

67.43%

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

$396 BSD 396

$91.4 MX$1,576

333.64%

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

$72.5 BSD 72.5

$25.20 MX$435

187.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$109 BSD 109

$31.24 MX$539

249.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$193 BSD 193

$67.2 MX$1,159

186.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.71 BSD 44.71

$29.11 MX$502

53.59%

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 BSD 19.98

$4.86 MX$83.8

311.11%

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

$862 BSD 862

$224 MX$3,856

285.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K BSD 16.3K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

285.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.98 BSD 47.98

$47.10 MX$812

1.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$119 BSD 119

$44.29 MX$764

168.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 BSD 128

$80.1 MX$1,381

59.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 BSD 134

$92.7 MX$1,598

44.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 BSD 1,515

$1,063 MX$18.3K

42.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 BSD 1,992

$390 MX$6,728

410.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,826 BSD 4,826

$2,149 MX$37.1K

124.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,916 BSD 3,916

$1,272 MX$21.9K

207.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,266 BSD 4,266

$4,001 MX$69.0K

6.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,219 BSD 3,219

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-50.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,391 BSD 3,391

$758 MX$13.1K

347.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

11.45

-35.55%

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

Last update for Nassau: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,515 in Nassau and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 347% 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: $198 in Nassau vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $661 vs $276 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

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

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 242% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 347% higher in Nassau, 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: $1,515 in Nassau versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,330 per month in Nassau versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 242% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 415% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,330 in Nassau, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nassau. 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 Nassau, 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 242% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.