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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,385 in Saint George, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,584 in Saint George, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,782 in Saint George, rent included.

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

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Saint George is 228% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$60.4 BMD 60.4

-80.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$181 BMD 181

-76.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$15.25 BMD 15.25

-29.51%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$6.41 BMD 6.41

-45.40%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$3.48 BMD 3.48

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$2.96 BMD 2.96

-70.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$9.95 BMD 9.95

-70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$8.64 BMD 8.64

-47.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$4.32 BMD 4.32

-66.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$8.95 BMD 8.95

-79.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$3.97 BMD 3.97

-60.45%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$7.35 BMD 7.35

-65.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$7.71 BMD 7.71

7.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$24.26 BMD 24.26

-65.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$25.65 BMD 25.65

-58.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$10.19 BMD 10.19

-74.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$6.41 BMD 6.41

-77.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$8.94 BMD 8.94

-78.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$9.45 BMD 9.45

-77.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$8.47 BMD 8.47

-78.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$5.22 BMD 5.22

-58.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$6.10 BMD 6.10

-83.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$3.28 BMD 3.28

-67.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$17.81 BMD 17.81

-76.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$24.83 BMD 24.83

-59.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$5.30 BMD 5.30

-68.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$4.38 BMD 4.38

-42.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$6.39 BMD 6.39

-49.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$53.6 BMD 53.6

-93.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$2.37 BMD 2.37

-44.30%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

-15.07%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$39.4K BMD 39.4K

-40.00%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$239 BMD 239

-65.62%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$119 BMD 119

-80.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$156 BMD 156

-80.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$98.9 BMD 98.9

-47.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$75.7 BMD 75.7

-75.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$13.74 BMD 13.74

-63.76%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$1,313 BMD 1,313

-84.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$24.9K BMD 24.9K

-78.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$29.41 BMD 29.41

21.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$59.6 BMD 59.6

-32.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$139 BMD 139

-43.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$127 BMD 127

-30.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$2,508 BMD 2,508

-62.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$2,183 BMD 2,183

-78.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$3,688 BMD 3,688

-55.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$3,417 BMD 3,417

-64.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Saint George: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,508 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 $181 in Saint George. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $756 – 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 249%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $6,578 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $4,385 in Saint George. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,313 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 $1,256, than in Saint George at $4,385. 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.