Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Saint George Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Saint George

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,430 in Saint George, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,697 in Saint George, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,964 in Saint George, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 71% cheaper than Saint George, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Saint George is 231% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$59.5 BMD 59.5

-80.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$179 BMD 179

-76.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$15.02 BMD 15.02

-29.16%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.32 BMD 6.32

-44.30%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$3.50 BMD 3.50

-56.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$2.86 BMD 2.86

-66.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$9.80 BMD 9.80

-69.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$8.74 BMD 8.74

-49.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$4.54 BMD 4.54

-69.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$8.53 BMD 8.53

-77.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$3.89 BMD 3.89

-57.84%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.49 BMD 7.49

-66.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$7.65 BMD 7.65

9.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$24.35 BMD 24.35

-65.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$25.52 BMD 25.52

-57.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$10.21 BMD 10.21

-74.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$6.20 BMD 6.20

-76.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$8.99 BMD 8.99

-78.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$9.20 BMD 9.20

-77.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$8.42 BMD 8.42

-78.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$5.03 BMD 5.03

-56.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$5.88 BMD 5.88

-82.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$3.29 BMD 3.29

-67.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$17.76 BMD 17.76

-77.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$25.25 BMD 25.25

-59.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$5.46 BMD 5.46

-68.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$4.53 BMD 4.53

-43.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$6.24 BMD 6.24

-47.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$53.6 BMD 53.6

-93.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.30 BMD 2.30

-43.04%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

-14.71%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

-40.76%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$238 BMD 238

-65.17%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$120 BMD 120

-81.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$153 BMD 153

-80.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$99.6 BMD 99.6

-48.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$76.3 BMD 76.3

-75.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$13.36 BMD 13.36

-62.05%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$1,338 BMD 1,338

-85.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

-78.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$30.17 BMD 30.17

22.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$61.1 BMD 61.1

-34.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$136 BMD 136

-42.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$125 BMD 125

-30.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$2,513 BMD 2,513

-61.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$2,160 BMD 2,160

-78.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$3,778 BMD 3,778

-56.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$3,492 BMD 3,492

-65.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Saint George: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,513 in Saint George. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $179 in Saint George. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $753 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Saint George: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint George is pricier by about 242%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $6,646 in Saint George. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $4,430 in Saint George. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,338 in Saint George. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Saint George at $4,430. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint George makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.