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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 19.2% cheaper than Columbia, SC without rent, and 41.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 39% cheaper than Columbia, SC without rent, and 22.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$18.21 $18.21
-34.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$60.5 $60.5
-29.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.9 $11.9
-12.02%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$3.82 $3.82
-5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.37 $2.37
-39.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.86 $1.86
-52.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$4.41 $4.41
-29.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$5.6 $5.6
-18.21%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$0.87 $0.87
58.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$2.61 $2.61
-29.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.64 $3.64
-56.87%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.26 $4.26
-40.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$9.39 $9.39
-8.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$12.99 $12.99
-34.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$22.61 $22.61
-51.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.21 $5.21
-47.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.84 $1.84
-17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$5.27 $5.27
-64.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$3.27 $3.27
-33.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.19 $3.19
-41.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$4.63 $4.63
-52.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.99 $1.99
-46.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.89 $1.89
-42.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$8.53 $8.53
-53.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$14.84 $14.84
-40.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.02 $2.02
-14.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.64 $2.64
-1.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, 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
$40.68 $40.68
-34.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$2.03 $2.03
59.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.52 $1.52
56.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$18.06 $18.06
-82.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.76 $0.76
72.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$30.4K $30.4K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$25.6K $25.6K
-6.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$218 $218
-61.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$53.7 $53.7
-58.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$60.2 $60.2
-49.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$40.01 $40.01
29.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$7.01 $7.01
167.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.19 $15.19
-66.62%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,431 $1,431
-86.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$22.3K $22.3K
-76.09%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$56.7 $56.7
-36.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$35.31 $35.31
12.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$80.3 $80.3
-1.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$116 $116
-23.70%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,306 $1,306
-26.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$904 $904
-47.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$2,200 $2,200
-24.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$1,290 $1,290
-6.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$1,827 $1,827
68.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$1,750 $1,750
330.22%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Columbia, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$3,526 $3,526
-77.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.54
74.62%

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 Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

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