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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,239 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,168 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,511 in Beaufort, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,096 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,614 in Beaufort, SC.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 49% less than in Beaufort, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 8% below, Beaufort, SC is 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.17 MX$202

$18.76 $18.76

-40.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 MX$806

$100 $100

-55.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 MX$215

$12.07 $12.07

-1.33%

Cappuccino

$3.81 MX$68.9

$5.27 $5.27

-27.70%

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

$1.38 MX$24.86

$2.43 $2.43

-43.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 MX$14.39

$1.96 $1.96

-59.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$56.3

$3.81 $3.81

-18.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MX$89.8

$4.09 $4.09

21.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 MX$27.29

$0.91 $0.91

65.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 MX$40.58

$3.09 $3.09

-27.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MX$27.22

$3.68 $3.68

-58.97%

Eggs

$2.46 MX$44.52

$4.07 $4.07

-39.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 MX$135

$8.72 $8.72

-13.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.07 MX$146

$6.13 $6.13

31.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 MX$236

$11.11 $11.11

17.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MX$51.2

$4.43 $4.43

-36.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MX$26.65

$1.32 $1.32

11.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MX$48.67

$3.91 $3.91

-31.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$37.58

$1.99 $1.99

4.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 MX$35.35

$2.50 $2.50

-21.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$36.34

$2.22 $2.22

-9.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MX$21.86

$2.03 $2.03

-40.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 MX$22.24

$2.40 $2.40

-48.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MX$80.6

$9.68 $9.68

-53.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 MX$180

$15.27 $15.27

-34.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 MX$29.48

$2.17 $2.17

-24.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 MX$50.6

$3.21 $3.21

-12.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MX$10.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 MX$511

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 MX$87.7

$1.53 $1.53

216.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 MX$63.2

$1.18 $1.18

196.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.65 MX$102

$14.06 $14.06

-59.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MX$26.30

$0.81 $0.81

80.25%

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

$21.4K MX$386.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

-16.86%

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

$24.0K MX$433.5K

$20.8K $20.8K

15.37%

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

$86.3 MX$1,560

$94.4 $94.4

-8.55%

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

$23.96 MX$433

$60.2 $60.2

-60.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.93 MX$523

$69.4 $69.4

-58.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 MX$1,168

$24.94 $24.94

159.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.07 MX$525

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 MX$92.7

$9.94 $9.94

-48.39%

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

$211 MX$3,820

$1,311 $1,311

-83.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,045 MX$73.1K

$12.1K $12.1K

-66.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.23 MX$799

$63.3 $63.3

-30.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.35 MX$783

$47.93 $47.93

-9.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 MX$1,390

$114 $114

-32.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 MX$1,598

$155 $155

-42.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$996 MX$18.0K

$1,562 $1,562

-36.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MX$6,842

$1,340 $1,340

-71.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 MX$31.9K

$2,783 $2,783

-36.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 MX$20.4K

$2,117 $2,117

-46.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,010 MX$72.5K

$3,691 $3,691

8.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 MX$115.5K

$3,677 $3,677

73.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 MX$13.9K

$4,100 $4,100

-81.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.19

84.98%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026

Last update for Beaufort, SC: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $996 in Playa del Carmen and $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beaufort, SC pays 434% 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: $45.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $100 in Beaufort, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $313 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 Beaufort, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 434% lower in Beaufort, SC. 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: $996 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,562 in Beaufort, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Beaufort, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,239 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,239 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,408 in Beaufort, SC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, 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 94% less than in Beaufort, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.