Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and La Serena

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 6.1% more expensive than La Serena without rent, and 18.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 8.3% cheaper than La Serena without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$7.92 CLP 7,362
51.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$51.5 CLP 47.9K
-17.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$8.47 CLP 7,876
23.61%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$2.98 CLP 2,770
20.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$1.16 CLP 1,081
24.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$0.72 CLP 669
23.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$2.11 CLP 1,961
46.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$3.97 CLP 3,689
15.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.29 CLP 1,203
6.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$2.48 CLP 2,311
-25.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$1.55 CLP 1,440
1.29%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$3.94 CLP 3,660
-35.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$12.97 CLP 12.1K
-33.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$6.17 CLP 5,743
38.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$13.31 CLP 12.4K
-17.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$1.89 CLP 1,759
43.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.84 CLP 1,713
-17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$1.4 CLP 1,303
34.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$1.5 CLP 1,394
46.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$1.2 CLP 1,112
55.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$1.32 CLP 1,230
65.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.08 CLP 1,004
-0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$0.95 CLP 887
14.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$5.27 CLP 4,906
-24.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$5.37 CLP 4,991
64.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1 CLP 932
72.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.21 CLP 2,059
18.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.05 CLP 978
-50.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$37.09 CLP 34.5K
-28.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$0.76 CLP 710
326.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$2.06 CLP 1,916
15.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$13.05 CLP 12.1K
-76.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.5 CLP 1,391
-12.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$20.9K CLP 19.4M
44.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$12.8K CLP 11.9M
87.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$90.7 CLP 84.3K
-7.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$11.34 CLP 10.5K
95.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$22.11 CLP 20.6K
36.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$39.28 CLP 36.5K
32.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$21.69 CLP 20.2K
-13.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$8.44 CLP 7,848
-39.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$432 CLP 402.2K
-53.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$46.27 CLP 43K
-22.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$65.9 CLP 61.3K
-39.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$96.3 CLP 89.5K
-17.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$111 CLP 103.2K
-20.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$361 CLP 336.2K
167.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$281 CLP 261.5K
68.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$1,052 CLP 978.8K
57.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$701 CLP 651.8K
71.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,145 CLP 2M
43.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$1,366 CLP 1.3M
451.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
La Serena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$731 CLP 679.9K
8.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.5
75.69%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for La Serena: October 29, 2025

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