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: $3,819 in Nassau versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,169 in Nassau versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,519 in Nassau versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nassau is roughly 197% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nassau is 185% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$40.77 BSD 40.77

$11.94 MX$209

241.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$200 BSD 200

$42.75 MX$748

367.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 BSD 11.41

$10.59 MX$185

7.74%

Cappuccino

$5.59 BSD 5.59

$3.62 MX$63.4

54.42%

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

$2.22 BSD 2.22

$1.47 MX$25.69

51.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 BSD 1.70

$0.94 MX$16.51

80.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 BSD 5.05

$3.09 MX$54.1

63.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.37 BSD 7.37

$4.46 MX$78.0

65.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.90 BSD 4.90

$1.43 MX$24.94

242.66%

White Bread (500g)

$5.89 BSD 5.89

$1.88 MX$32.97

213.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.39 BSD 6.39

$1.63 MX$28.50

292.02%

Eggs

$7.50 BSD 7.50

$2.64 MX$46.26

184.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.39 BSD 8.39

$8.21 MX$144

2.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.08 BSD 12.08

$8.29 MX$145

45.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.36 BSD 20.36

$11.10 MX$194

83.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 BSD 5.20

$2.65 MX$46.40

96.23%

Banana (1kg)

$3.54 BSD 3.54

$1.50 MX$26.26

136.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 BSD 4.81

$1.99 MX$34.79

141.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.92 BSD 6.92

$2.08 MX$36.33

232.69%

Potato (1kg)

$5.15 BSD 5.15

$1.79 MX$31.29

187.71%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 BSD 4.45

$2.18 MX$38.09

104.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 BSD 3.52

$1.08 MX$18.84

225.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 BSD 3.01

$1.04 MX$18.15

189.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.63 BSD 13.63

$3.97 MX$69.5

243.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.65 BSD 34.65

$10.20 MX$179

239.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.81 BSD 3.81

$1.73 MX$30.22

120.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 BSD 4.44

$2.50 MX$43.71

77.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 BSD 1.35

$0.52 MX$9.07

159.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.82 BSD 44.82

$26.97 MX$472

66.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.95 BSD 5.95

$3.14 MX$55.0

89.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.18 BSD 3.18

$2.40 MX$42.04

32.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$98.1 BSD 98.1

$3.09 MX$54.0

3073.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 BSD 1.46

$1.27 MX$22.28

14.96%

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

$37.1K BSD 37.1K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

20.25%

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

$42.9K BSD 42.9K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

83.80%

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

$303 BSD 303

$82.0 MX$1,435

269.81%

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

$72.7 BSD 72.7

$22.45 MX$393

223.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 BSD 102

$29.66 MX$519

245.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 BSD 131

$51.9 MX$908

152.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.1 BSD 61.1

$18.67 MX$327

227.42%

Cinema Ticket

$20.10 BSD 20.10

$4.97 MX$87.0

304.43%

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

$727 BSD 727

$198 MX$3,462

267.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K BSD 14.9K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

182.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 BSD 62.9

$36.34 MX$636

73.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 BSD 76.8

$40.05 MX$701

91.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 BSD 113

$79.9 MX$1,398

41.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BSD 125

$88.9 MX$1,555

40.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 BSD 1,833

$963 MX$16.9K

90.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 BSD 1,818

$465 MX$8,133

291.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,700 BSD 3,700

$1,596 MX$27.9K

131.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,708 BSD 3,708

$1,209 MX$21.2K

206.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,164 BSD 4,164

$3,942 MX$69.0K

5.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,292 BSD 3,292

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-48.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,361 BSD 3,361

$720 MX$12.6K

366.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

11.42

-38.27%

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

Last update for Nassau: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,833 in Nassau and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 367% 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: $200 in Nassau vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $583 vs $251 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 197% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Nassau pays 367% more on average, 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: $1,833 in Nassau versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,819 per month in Nassau versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 197% 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 66% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,819 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 197% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.