Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Nassau Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Nassau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,819 in Nassau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,169 in Nassau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $8,519 in Nassau.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 66% less than in Nassau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Nassau is 185% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$40.77 BSD 40.77

-70.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$200 BSD 200

-78.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$11.41 BSD 11.41

-7.19%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$5.59 BSD 5.59

-35.24%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$2.22 BSD 2.22

-33.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$1.70 BSD 1.70

-44.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$5.05 BSD 5.05

-38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$7.37 BSD 7.37

-39.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$4.90 BSD 4.90

-70.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$5.89 BSD 5.89

-68.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$6.39 BSD 6.39

-74.49%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$7.50 BSD 7.50

-64.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$8.39 BSD 8.39

-2.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$12.08 BSD 12.08

-31.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$20.36 BSD 20.36

-45.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$5.20 BSD 5.20

-49.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$3.54 BSD 3.54

-57.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$4.81 BSD 4.81

-58.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$6.92 BSD 6.92

-69.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$5.15 BSD 5.15

-65.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$4.45 BSD 4.45

-51.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$3.52 BSD 3.52

-69.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$3.01 BSD 3.01

-65.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$13.63 BSD 13.63

-70.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$34.65 BSD 34.65

-70.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

$3.81 BSD 3.81

-54.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

$4.44 BSD 4.44

-43.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$1.35 BSD 1.35

-61.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$44.82 BSD 44.82

-39.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$5.95 BSD 5.95

-47.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$3.18 BSD 3.18

-24.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$98.1 BSD 98.1

-96.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$1.46 BSD 1.46

-13.01%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$37.1K BSD 37.1K

-16.84%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$42.9K BSD 42.9K

-45.59%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$303 BSD 303

-72.96%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$72.7 BSD 72.7

-69.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$102 BSD 102

-71.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$131 BSD 131

-60.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$61.1 BSD 61.1

-69.46%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$20.10 BSD 20.10

-75.27%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$727 BSD 727

-72.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$14.9K BSD 14.9K

-64.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$62.9 BSD 62.9

-42.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$76.8 BSD 76.8

-47.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$113 BSD 113

-29.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$125 BSD 125

-29.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$1,833 BSD 1,833

-47.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$1,818 BSD 1,818

-74.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$3,700 BSD 3,700

-56.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$3,708 BSD 3,708

-67.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$4,164 BSD 4,164

-5.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$3,292 BSD 3,292

95.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$3,361 BSD 3,361

-78.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.05

61.99%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Nassau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,833 in Nassau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 367% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $200 in Nassau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $583 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 Nassau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 197% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Nassau earns 367% 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: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,833 in Nassau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,819 in Nassau – a 197% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 66% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,819 in Nassau, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nassau. 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 Nassau, 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 197% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.