Cost of Living Comparison Between New Providence and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between New Providence and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,851 per month in New Providence vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,613 per month in New Providence vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,376 per month in New Providence vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Providence costs about 46% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.39 BSD 30.39

$11.87 MX$204

156.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 BSD 118

$42.90 MX$736

174.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 BSD 9.92

$10.65 MX$183

-6.85%

Cappuccino

$6.18 BSD 6.18

$3.45 MX$59.2

79.13%

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

$4.62 BSD 4.62

$1.50 MX$25.81

208.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 BSD 3.45

$0.95 MX$16.28

263.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.13 BSD 9.13

$3.03 MX$51.9

201.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 BSD 4.56

$4.61 MX$79.1

-1.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.02 BSD 3.02

$1.38 MX$23.61

118.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.71 BSD 4.71

$1.85 MX$31.70

154.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.51 BSD 6.51

$1.61 MX$27.65

304.35%

Eggs

$6.41 BSD 6.41

$2.59 MX$44.51

147.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.77 BSD 13.77

$8.26 MX$142

66.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 BSD 8.23

$8.37 MX$144

-1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 BSD 13.14

$10.66 MX$183

23.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 BSD 2.91

$2.63 MX$45.12

10.65%

Banana (1kg)

$4.07 BSD 4.07

$1.49 MX$25.53

173.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 BSD 4.51

$1.92 MX$32.94

134.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 BSD 3.03

$2.09 MX$35.81

44.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.16 BSD 3.16

$1.86 MX$31.88

69.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 BSD 2.41

$2.26 MX$38.81

6.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 BSD 2.63

$1.06 MX$18.23

148.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 BSD 2.48

$1.09 MX$18.67

127.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.22 BSD 12.22

$4.15 MX$71.2

194.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 BSD 25.23

$10.39 MX$178

142.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 BSD 3.29

$1.72 MX$29.59

91.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 BSD 4.04

$2.61 MX$44.85

54.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 BSD 1.23

$0.54 MX$9.30

127.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.2 BSD 60.2

$3.15 MX$54.1

1810.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$40.49 BSD 40.49

$22.71 MX$390

78.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 BSD 101

$29.46 MX$506

243.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.0 BSD 76.0

$51.0 MX$875

49.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 BSD 15.19

$4.93 MX$84.5

208.11%

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,499 BSD 1,499

$956 MX$16.4K

56.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 BSD 694

$477 MX$8,189

45.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,434 BSD 4,434

$1,225 MX$21.0K

262.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for New Providence: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,499 in New Providence versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in New Providence versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $453 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

New Providence costs about 46% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,776 per month in New Providence and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,851 in New Providence and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 81% more in New Providence, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in New Providence at $1,851. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Providence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,271 versus $1,851 in New Providence. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Providence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.