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 $1,869 per month in New Providence vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,573 per month in New Providence vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,276 per month in New Providence vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Providence costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

New Providence sits 40% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.40 BSD 29.40

$11.72 MX$203

150.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 BSD 118

$41.89 MX$725

182.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.50 BSD 9.50

$10.51 MX$182

-9.61%

Cappuccino

$6.27 BSD 6.27

$3.59 MX$62.0

74.65%

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

$4.89 BSD 4.89

$1.51 MX$26.10

223.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 BSD 3.44

$0.92 MX$15.83

273.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.10 BSD 9.10

$2.96 MX$51.2

207.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 BSD 4.62

$4.41 MX$76.3

4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.89 BSD 2.89

$1.40 MX$24.16

106.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.67 BSD 4.67

$1.88 MX$32.60

148.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.49 BSD 6.49

$1.56 MX$26.97

316.03%

Eggs

$6.43 BSD 6.43

$2.61 MX$45.14

146.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 BSD 13.62

$8.32 MX$144

63.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 BSD 8.25

$8.35 MX$145

-1.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 BSD 12.96

$10.86 MX$188

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 BSD 2.92

$2.71 MX$46.93

7.75%

Banana (1kg)

$4.12 BSD 4.12

$1.51 MX$26.04

172.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 BSD 4.35

$1.87 MX$32.41

132.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 BSD 3.07

$2.19 MX$37.89

40.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 BSD 3.12

$1.86 MX$32.14

67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 BSD 2.40

$2.23 MX$38.59

7.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 BSD 2.65

$1.07 MX$18.48

147.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 BSD 2.56

$1.09 MX$18.79

134.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.79 BSD 11.79

$4.19 MX$72.4

181.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.19 BSD 25.19

$10.43 MX$180

141.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 BSD 3.28

$1.66 MX$28.68

97.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 BSD 3.91

$2.61 MX$45.19

49.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 BSD 1.22

$0.54 MX$9.37

125.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.7 BSD 59.7

$3.13 MX$54.1

1807.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

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

$40.49 BSD 40.49

$22.56 MX$390

79.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 BSD 100

$30.05 MX$520

233.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.0 BSD 76.0

$52.9 MX$915

43.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 BSD 15.23

$4.92 MX$85.1

209.55%

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

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,498 BSD 1,498

$978 MX$16.9K

53.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 BSD 693

$470 MX$8,140

47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,525 BSD 4,525

$1,203 MX$20.8K

276.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,498 in New Providence versus $978 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $252 – 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 48% 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 $2,804 per month in New Providence and $1,890 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 $1,869 in New Providence and $1,260 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 $1,260, than in New Providence at $1,869. 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 $1,260 versus $1,869 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.