Cost of Living Comparison Between North Charleston, SC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between North Charleston, SC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,620 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,840 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,060 per month in North Charleston, SC vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

North Charleston, SC costs about 108% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

North Charleston, SC sits 95% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.18 $18.18

$11.67 MX$202

55.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$41.88 MX$726

102.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$10.40 MX$180

-4.81%

Cappuccino

$6.21 $6.21

$3.61 MX$62.6

72.02%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$1.47 MX$25.45

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.91 MX$15.80

157.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$3.03 MX$52.6

93.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.47 MX$77.4

80.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.38 MX$23.83

-31.16%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$1.84 MX$31.93

124.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.61 MX$27.82

89.44%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$2.57 MX$44.52

51.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$8.49 MX$147

61.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.41 $12.41

$8.49 MX$147

46.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.11 $15.11

$10.99 MX$190

37.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$2.73 MX$47.25

146.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.50 MX$25.92

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$1.96 MX$33.93

132.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$2.12 MX$36.70

172.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.86 MX$32.30

51.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.17 MX$37.67

33.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.07 MX$18.59

83.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.05 MX$18.18

126.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.39 $7.39

$4.19 MX$72.6

76.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$10.28 MX$178

48.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.67 MX$28.87

9.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.49 MX$43.12

6.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.45 $3.45

$0.54 MX$9.37

538.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.77 $30.77

$26.27 MX$455

17.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.10 MX$53.8

-1.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.46 MX$42.66

-38.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.63 $19.63

$3.24 MX$56.1

505.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.26 MX$21.83

-33.33%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-3.67%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

8.38%

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

$211 $211

$84.0 MX$1,456

151.80%

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

$64.7 $64.7

$22.21 MX$385

191.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$29.65 MX$514

147.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.19 $42.19

$52.6 MX$912

-19.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$12.08 $12.08

$4.95 MX$85.7

144.04%

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

$763 $763

$198 MX$3,438

284.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K $14.5K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

171.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 $60.7

$35.95 MX$623

68.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.93 $43.93

$40.06 MX$694

9.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 $95.1

$78.8 MX$1,365

20.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$86.5 MX$1,499

60.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,903 $1,903

$977 MX$16.9K

94.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$471 MX$8,158

173.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,965 $1,965

$1,595 MX$27.6K

23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 $1,996

$1,215 MX$21.1K

64.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 $2,863

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-29.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,815 $2,815

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-57.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,349 $4,349

$714 MX$12.4K

508.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

11.42

-43.17%

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

Last update for North Charleston, SC: April 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,903 in North Charleston, SC versus $977 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.

Salaries run about 509% higher in North Charleston, SC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in North Charleston, SC versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 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

North Charleston, SC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, SC costs about 108% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,930 per month in North Charleston, SC and $1,891 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.

Groceries cost about 64% more in North Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in North Charleston, SC and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in North Charleston, SC at $2,620. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $2,620 in North Charleston, SC. 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, North Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.