Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Anderson, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Anderson, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,256 in Anderson, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,427 in Anderson, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,598 in Anderson, SC.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 44% less than in Anderson, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Anderson, SC is 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$15.59 $15.59

-25.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$84.1 $84.1

-50.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$12.19 $12.19

-14.68%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$4.96 $4.96

-27.22%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$2.63 $2.63

-44.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$2.29 $2.29

-60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$4.05 $4.05

-25.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$4.86 $4.86

-8.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$3.92 $3.92

-53.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$5.43 $5.43

-70.35%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$4.08 $4.08

-37.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$11.72 $11.72

-27.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$16.00 $16.00

-46.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$17.09 $17.09

-35.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$6.91 $6.91

-60.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.56 $1.56

-3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$5.40 $5.40

-63.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$5.98 $5.98

-64.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$3.21 $3.21

-42.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$3.40 $3.40

-36.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$2.49 $2.49

-57.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$2.68 $2.68

-60.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$7.34 $7.34

-42.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$13.44 $13.44

-23.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$3.00 $3.00

-44.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$3.62 $3.62

-31.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$4.33 $4.33

-87.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$49.87 $49.87

-47.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$3.43 $3.43

-9.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$0.76 $0.76

223.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$10.14 $10.14

-68.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$0.88 $0.88

43.18%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$29.0K $29.0K

3.86%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

-12.33%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$192 $192

-56.36%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$56.4 $56.4

-60.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$64.1 $64.1

-53.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$39.78 $39.78

32.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

$22.35 $22.35

-17.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$12.16 $12.16

-59.29%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$1,223 $1,223

-83.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$12.2K $12.2K

-56.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$36.48 $36.48

-1.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$30.25 $30.25

32.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$62.0 $62.0

27.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$63.5 $63.5

36.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$1,142 $1,142

-14.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$1,002 $1,002

-53.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$1,818 $1,818

-12.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$1,789 $1,789

-32.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$3,020 $3,020

33.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$2,468 $2,468

166.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$3,224 $3,224

-77.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.54

74.62%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Anderson, SC: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,142 in Anderson, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anderson, SC pays 351% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $84 in Anderson, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $457 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

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

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Anderson, SC earns 351% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,142 in Anderson, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 90% less than in Anderson, SC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,223 in Anderson, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,256 in Anderson, SC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Anderson, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Anderson, SC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Anderson, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.