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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,678 per month in New Providence vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,506 per month in New Providence vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Providence costs about 44% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.44 BSD 30.44

$11.94 MX$209

154.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 BSD 119

$42.75 MX$748

178.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 BSD 10.02

$10.59 MX$185

-5.38%

Cappuccino

$6.30 BSD 6.30

$3.62 MX$63.4

74.03%

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

$4.83 BSD 4.83

$1.47 MX$25.69

228.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 BSD 3.48

$0.94 MX$16.51

270.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.45 BSD 9.45

$3.09 MX$54.1

205.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 BSD 4.56

$4.46 MX$78.0

2.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.91 BSD 2.91

$1.43 MX$24.94

103.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.55 BSD 4.55

$1.88 MX$32.97

142.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.37 BSD 6.37

$1.63 MX$28.50

290.80%

Eggs

$6.69 BSD 6.69

$2.64 MX$46.26

153.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 BSD 13.65

$8.21 MX$144

66.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 BSD 8.29

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 BSD 13.17

$11.10 MX$194

18.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 BSD 2.93

$2.65 MX$46.40

10.57%

Banana (1kg)

$4.02 BSD 4.02

$1.50 MX$26.26

168.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 BSD 4.59

$1.99 MX$34.79

130.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 BSD 3.12

$2.08 MX$36.33

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 BSD 3.13

$1.79 MX$31.29

74.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 BSD 2.42

$2.18 MX$38.09

11.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 BSD 2.52

$1.08 MX$18.84

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 BSD 2.44

$1.04 MX$18.15

134.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.93 BSD 11.93

$3.97 MX$69.5

200.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.06 BSD 25.06

$10.20 MX$179

145.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 BSD 3.33

$1.73 MX$30.22

92.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 BSD 3.88

$2.50 MX$43.71

55.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 BSD 1.28

$0.52 MX$9.07

146.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.4 BSD 60.4

$3.09 MX$54.0

1853.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$40.18 BSD 40.18

$22.45 MX$393

78.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.8 BSD 98.8

$29.66 MX$519

232.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.4 BSD 76.4

$51.9 MX$908

47.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 BSD 15.22

$4.97 MX$87.0

206.24%

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 BSD 1,476

$963 MX$16.9K

53.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 BSD 693

$465 MX$8,133

49.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,543 BSD 4,543

$1,209 MX$21.2K

275.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,476 in New Providence versus $963 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 $119 in New Providence versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $450 vs $251 – 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 44% 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 $2,777 per month in New Providence and $1,930 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 79% 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 $1,287, 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 $1,287 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.