Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,171 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,927 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,683 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Perez Zeledon is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Perez Zeledon and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Perez Zeledon 13% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 ₡3,082

$11.94 MX$209

-43.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.34 ₡17.9K

$42.75 MX$748

-7.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 ₡4,539

$10.59 MX$185

-5.76%

Cappuccino

$3.80 ₡1,729

$3.62 MX$63.4

4.97%

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

$1.45 ₡661

$1.47 MX$25.69

-1.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡725

$0.94 MX$16.51

69.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,325

$3.09 MX$54.1

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,154

$4.46 MX$78.0

6.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡886

$1.43 MX$24.94

36.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,254

$1.88 MX$32.97

46.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡973

$1.63 MX$28.50

31.29%

Eggs

$2.53 ₡1,148

$2.64 MX$46.26

-4.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₡3,725

$8.21 MX$144

-0.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 ₡4,099

$8.29 MX$145

8.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.51 ₡6,144

$11.10 MX$194

21.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 ₡2,053

$2.65 MX$46.40

70.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₡470

$1.50 MX$26.26

-31.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 ₡1,909

$1.99 MX$34.79

111.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,553

$2.08 MX$36.33

64.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,294

$1.79 MX$31.29

59.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₡1,273

$2.18 MX$38.09

28.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ₡174

$1.08 MX$18.84

-64.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,337

$1.04 MX$18.15

182.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,317

$3.97 MX$69.5

28.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.95 ₡9,981

$10.20 MX$179

115.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₡977

$1.73 MX$30.22

24.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₡691

$2.50 MX$43.71

-39.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₡334

$0.52 MX$9.07

42.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡841

$3.14 MX$55.0

-41.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡819

$2.40 MX$42.04

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,684

$3.09 MX$54.0

162.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡635

$1.27 MX$22.28

10.24%

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

$38.2K ₡17.3M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

23.54%

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

$33.2K ₡15.1M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

42.39%

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

$93.5 ₡42.5K

$82.0 MX$1,435

14.03%

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

$21.44 ₡9,750

$22.45 MX$393

-4.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡26.9K

$29.66 MX$519

99.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.20 ₡13.7K

$51.9 MX$908

-41.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₡10.7K

$18.67 MX$327

25.82%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 ₡4,413

$4.97 MX$87.0

95.17%

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

$500 ₡227.3K

$198 MX$3,462

152.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡5.9M

$5,273 MX$92.3K

144.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.9K

$36.34 MX$636

74.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 ₡23.1K

$40.05 MX$701

27.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.8K

$79.9 MX$1,398

56.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.0K

$88.9 MX$1,555

21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₡153.0K

$963 MX$16.9K

-65.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₡119.8K

$465 MX$8,133

-43.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 ₡699.1K

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-3.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₡287.3K

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-47.74%

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

-21.19%

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

Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Perez Zeledon 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 $39.00 in Perez Zeledon versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Perez Zeledon vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Perez Zeledon vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,756 per month in Perez Zeledon 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 Perez Zeledon, 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 $1,171 in Perez Zeledon and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $500 per month in Perez Zeledon and $198 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 Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Perez Zeledon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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