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: $3,711 in Nassau versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,130 in Nassau versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,549 in Nassau versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Nassau is roughly 194% more expensive than in 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

$39.66 BSD 39.66

$11.72 MX$203

238.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$197 BSD 197

$41.89 MX$725

370.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 BSD 11.32

$10.51 MX$182

7.71%

Cappuccino

$5.76 BSD 5.76

$3.59 MX$62.0

60.45%

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

$2.32 BSD 2.32

$1.51 MX$26.10

53.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BSD 1.73

$0.92 MX$15.83

88.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 BSD 5.09

$2.96 MX$51.2

71.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 BSD 7.61

$4.41 MX$76.3

72.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.88 BSD 4.88

$1.40 MX$24.16

248.57%

White Bread (500g)

$5.94 BSD 5.94

$1.88 MX$32.60

215.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.27 BSD 6.27

$1.56 MX$26.97

301.92%

Eggs

$7.61 BSD 7.61

$2.61 MX$45.14

191.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 BSD 8.38

$8.32 MX$144

0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.98 BSD 11.98

$8.35 MX$145

43.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.58 BSD 20.58

$10.86 MX$188

89.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 BSD 5.14

$2.71 MX$46.93

89.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.39 BSD 3.39

$1.51 MX$26.04

124.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 BSD 4.79

$1.87 MX$32.41

156.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.96 BSD 6.96

$2.19 MX$37.89

217.81%

Potato (1kg)

$4.88 BSD 4.88

$1.86 MX$32.14

162.37%

Onion (1kg)

$4.52 BSD 4.52

$2.23 MX$38.59

102.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.54 BSD 3.54

$1.07 MX$18.48

230.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 BSD 3.08

$1.09 MX$18.79

182.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 BSD 13.77

$4.19 MX$72.4

228.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.18 BSD 34.18

$10.43 MX$180

227.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.00 BSD 4.00

$1.66 MX$28.68

140.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 BSD 4.50

$2.61 MX$45.19

72.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 BSD 1.42

$0.54 MX$9.37

162.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.98 BSD 44.98

$26.16 MX$453

71.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 BSD 5.98

$3.08 MX$53.3

94.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 BSD 3.21

$2.40 MX$41.61

33.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$98.3 BSD 98.3

$3.13 MX$54.1

3039.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 BSD 1.39

$1.31 MX$22.69

6.11%

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

$37.8K BSD 37.8K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

26.90%

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

$42.5K BSD 42.5K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

82.28%

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

$302 BSD 302

$81.3 MX$1,406

271.96%

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

$70.6 BSD 70.6

$22.56 MX$390

212.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 BSD 102

$30.05 MX$520

238.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$133 BSD 133

$52.9 MX$915

150.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.8 BSD 59.8

$18.39 MX$318

225.18%

Cinema Ticket

$20.36 BSD 20.36

$4.92 MX$85.1

313.82%

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

$722 BSD 722

$201 MX$3,474

259.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K BSD 15.0K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

190.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 BSD 63.9

$35.92 MX$622

77.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.2 BSD 75.2

$40.13 MX$694

87.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 BSD 114

$79.7 MX$1,379

42.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 BSD 128

$86.5 MX$1,496

48.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 BSD 1,847

$978 MX$16.9K

88.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 BSD 1,786

$470 MX$8,140

279.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,729 BSD 3,729

$1,651 MX$28.6K

125.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,716 BSD 3,716

$1,203 MX$20.8K

208.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,174 BSD 4,174

$3,953 MX$68.4K

5.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,247 BSD 3,247

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-50.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,317 BSD 3,317

$677 MX$11.7K

390.30%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,847 in Nassau and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 390% 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: $197 in Nassau vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $583 vs $252 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 194% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 390% 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: $1,847 in Nassau versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,711 per month in Nassau versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 194% 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 72% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,711 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 194% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.