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 $2,143 per month in New Providence vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,323 per month in New Providence vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,502 per month in New Providence vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Providence costs about 69% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 57% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$75.5 BSD 75.5

$11.60 MX$200

551.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BSD 151

$47.11 MX$812

219.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$5.54 BSD 5.54

$3.98 MX$68.6

39.20%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 BSD 2.06

$1.68 MX$28.89

22.62%

White Bread (500g)

$5.00 BSD 5.00

$2.20 MX$37.88

127.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.95 BSD 4.95

$1.71 MX$29.45

189.47%

Eggs

$10.04 BSD 10.04

$2.74 MX$47.26

266.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.75 BSD 19.75

$9.58 MX$165

106.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.92 BSD 9.92

$9.01 MX$155

10.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 BSD 19.69

$12.81 MX$221

53.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 BSD 4.31

$2.89 MX$49.81

49.13%

Banana (1kg)

$6.02 BSD 6.02

$1.50 MX$25.81

301.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.88 BSD 6.88

$2.15 MX$37.03

220.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 BSD 3.94

$2.26 MX$38.96

74.34%

Potato (1kg)

$4.03 BSD 4.03

$1.98 MX$34.15

103.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 BSD 2.93

$1.99 MX$34.30

47.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 BSD 3.06

$1.23 MX$21.28

148.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 BSD 3.06

$1.20 MX$20.63

155.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.15 BSD 15.15

$4.55 MX$78.5

232.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.65 BSD 24.65

$10.37 MX$179

137.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 BSD 3.87

$1.62 MX$27.91

138.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 BSD 3.89

$2.88 MX$49.67

35.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

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

$39.52 BSD 39.52

$25.20 MX$435

56.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 BSD 101

$31.24 MX$539

223.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 BSD 75.0

$67.2 MX$1,159

11.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 BSD 15.27

$4.86 MX$83.8

214.20%

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

$1,477 BSD 1,477

$224 MX$3,856

560.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K BSD 14.9K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

252.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 BSD 1,474

$1,063 MX$18.3K

38.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 BSD 713

$390 MX$6,728

82.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,520 BSD 4,520

$1,272 MX$21.9K

255.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for New Providence: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,474 in New Providence versus $1,063 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 $151 in New Providence versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $276 – 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 69% 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 $3,215 per month in New Providence and $1,899 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 $2,143 in New Providence and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,477 per month in New Providence and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in New Providence at $2,143. 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 $1,266 versus $2,143 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.