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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,711 in Nassau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,130 in Nassau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $8,549 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 5% below, Nassau is 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$39.66 BSD 39.66

-70.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$197 BSD 197

-78.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$11.32 BSD 11.32

-7.16%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$5.76 BSD 5.76

-37.67%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$2.32 BSD 2.32

-34.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$1.73 BSD 1.73

-46.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$5.09 BSD 5.09

-41.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$7.61 BSD 7.61

-42.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$4.88 BSD 4.88

-71.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$5.94 BSD 5.94

-68.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$6.27 BSD 6.27

-75.12%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$7.61 BSD 7.61

-65.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$8.38 BSD 8.38

-0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$11.98 BSD 11.98

-30.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$20.58 BSD 20.58

-47.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$5.14 BSD 5.14

-47.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$3.39 BSD 3.39

-55.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$4.79 BSD 4.79

-60.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$6.96 BSD 6.96

-68.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$4.88 BSD 4.88

-61.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$4.52 BSD 4.52

-50.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$3.54 BSD 3.54

-69.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$3.08 BSD 3.08

-64.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$13.77 BSD 13.77

-69.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$34.18 BSD 34.18

-69.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$4.00 BSD 4.00

-58.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$4.50 BSD 4.50

-42.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$1.42 BSD 1.42

-61.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$44.98 BSD 44.98

-41.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$5.98 BSD 5.98

-48.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$3.21 BSD 3.21

-25.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$98.3 BSD 98.3

-96.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$1.39 BSD 1.39

-5.76%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$37.8K BSD 37.8K

-21.19%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$42.5K BSD 42.5K

-45.14%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$302 BSD 302

-73.12%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$70.6 BSD 70.6

-68.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$102 BSD 102

-70.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$133 BSD 133

-60.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$59.8 BSD 59.8

-69.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$20.36 BSD 20.36

-75.83%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$722 BSD 722

-72.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$15.0K BSD 15.0K

-65.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$63.9 BSD 63.9

-43.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$75.2 BSD 75.2

-46.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$114 BSD 114

-29.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$128 BSD 128

-32.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$1,847 BSD 1,847

-47.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$1,786 BSD 1,786

-73.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$3,729 BSD 3,729

-55.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$3,716 BSD 3,716

-67.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$4,174 BSD 4,174

-5.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$3,247 BSD 3,247

103.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$3,317 BSD 3,317

-79.60%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nassau: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,847 in Nassau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nassau pays 390% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $197 in Nassau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 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 194% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 390% lower in Nassau. 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,847 in Nassau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,711 in Nassau – a 194% 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 72% less than in Nassau. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,711 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 194% less than in Nassau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.