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: $3,755 in Nassau versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,117 in Nassau versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,478 in Nassau versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nassau is roughly 196% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nassau is 179% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$39.34 BSD 39.34

$11.87 MX$204

231.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$199 BSD 199

$42.90 MX$736

363.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.53 BSD 11.53

$10.65 MX$183

8.26%

Cappuccino

$5.60 BSD 5.60

$3.45 MX$59.2

62.32%

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

$2.24 BSD 2.24

$1.50 MX$25.81

49.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 BSD 1.71

$0.95 MX$16.28

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 BSD 4.88

$3.03 MX$51.9

61.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 BSD 7.59

$4.61 MX$79.1

64.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.84 BSD 4.84

$1.38 MX$23.61

250.72%

White Bread (500g)

$5.93 BSD 5.93

$1.85 MX$31.70

220.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.36 BSD 6.36

$1.61 MX$27.65

295.03%

Eggs

$7.41 BSD 7.41

$2.59 MX$44.51

186.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 BSD 8.31

$8.26 MX$142

0.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.27 BSD 12.27

$8.37 MX$144

46.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.99 BSD 20.99

$10.66 MX$183

96.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.40 BSD 5.40

$2.63 MX$45.12

105.32%

Banana (1kg)

$3.35 BSD 3.35

$1.49 MX$25.53

124.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.83 BSD 4.83

$1.92 MX$32.94

151.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.03 BSD 7.03

$2.09 MX$35.81

236.36%

Potato (1kg)

$4.91 BSD 4.91

$1.86 MX$31.88

163.98%

Onion (1kg)

$4.44 BSD 4.44

$2.26 MX$38.81

96.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 BSD 3.52

$1.06 MX$18.23

232.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 BSD 3.04

$1.09 MX$18.67

178.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 BSD 13.77

$4.15 MX$71.2

231.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$33.61 BSD 33.61

$10.39 MX$178

223.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.82 BSD 3.82

$1.72 MX$29.59

122.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 BSD 4.42

$2.61 MX$44.85

69.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 BSD 1.36

$0.54 MX$9.30

151.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.37 BSD 44.37

$26.94 MX$462

64.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 BSD 5.91

$3.13 MX$53.7

88.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 BSD 3.07

$2.51 MX$43.09

22.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$101 BSD 101

$3.15 MX$54.1

3105.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 BSD 1.46

$1.27 MX$21.88

14.96%

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

$36.9K BSD 36.9K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

21.62%

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

$42.2K BSD 42.2K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

78.87%

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

$306 BSD 306

$83.0 MX$1,425

268.95%

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

$72.9 BSD 72.9

$22.71 MX$390

221.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 BSD 101

$29.46 MX$506

241.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$134 BSD 134

$51.0 MX$875

162.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.4 BSD 60.4

$18.33 MX$315

229.35%

Cinema Ticket

$19.96 BSD 19.96

$4.93 MX$84.5

304.87%

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

$705 BSD 705

$197 MX$3,386

257.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K BSD 15.0K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

183.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 BSD 63.7

$36.90 MX$633

72.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.4 BSD 75.4

$39.89 MX$685

88.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 BSD 114

$80.0 MX$1,373

42.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BSD 129

$89.5 MX$1,536

43.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,869 BSD 1,869

$956 MX$16.4K

95.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,768 BSD 1,768

$477 MX$8,189

270.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,746 BSD 3,746

$1,646 MX$28.3K

127.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,627 BSD 3,627

$1,225 MX$21.0K

196.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,174 BSD 4,174

$3,918 MX$67.2K

6.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,335 BSD 3,335

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-48.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,318 BSD 3,318

$667 MX$11.4K

397.41%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,869 in Nassau and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 397% 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: $199 in Nassau vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $583 vs $250 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Nassau pays 397% 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: $1,869 in Nassau versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,755 per month in Nassau versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 196% 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 65% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,755 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 196% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.