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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 27.8% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 57.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 45.4% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 44.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$17.95 $17.95
-33.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$79.7 $79.7
-46.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$9.9 $9.9
5.76%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.04 $5.04
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.42 $2.42
-40.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.95 $1.95
-54.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$5.9 $5.9
-47.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$7.94 $7.94
-42.32%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1 $1
38.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.75 $3.75
-50.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.22 $3.22
-51.24%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.45 $4.45
-42.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$13.9 $13.9
-38.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$15.05 $15.05
-43.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$17.03 $17.03
-35.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.79 $5.79
-53.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.66 $1.66
-9.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$6.68 $6.68
-71.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.02 $4.02
-45.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.67 $3.67
-49.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.76 $2.76
-20.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.78 $1.78
-39.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.87 $1.87
-41.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$7.62 $7.62
-48.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$17.74 $17.74
-50.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.78 $1.78
-3.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.32 $3.32
-21.39%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.96 $1.96
-73.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$57.3 $57.3
-53.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$2.91 $2.91
11.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.53 $1.53
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$20.37 $20.37
-84.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.84 $0.84
55.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$32.7K $32.7K
-7.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$24.6K $24.6K
-2.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$141 $141
-40.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$54.8 $54.8
-59.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$73.4 $73.4
-58.94%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$29.53 $29.53
76.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$18.1 $18.1
3.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$13.29 $13.29
-61.85%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,313 $1,313
-84.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$24.2K $24.2K
-78.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$49.68 $49.68
-28.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$36.64 $36.64
8.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$94.6 $94.6
-16.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$153 $153
-42.36%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$2,577 $2,577
-62.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$1,687 $1,687
-71.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$4,414 $4,414
-62.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$2,638 $2,638
-54.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$4,656 $4,656
-33.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$3,200 $3,200
135.31%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$4,603 $4,603
-82.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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