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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,374 in Saint Sampson, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,731 in Saint Sampson, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,087 in Saint Sampson, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 45% cheaper than Saint Sampson, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Saint Sampson is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$15.11 GGP 11.22

-22.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$81.0 GGP 60.2

-48.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$9.54 GGP 7.09

11.53%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$2.01 GGP 1.49

-24.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$1.34 GGP 1.00

-27.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.73 GGP 1.29

-20.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$1.74 GGP 1.29

-70.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$2.27 GGP 1.68

-42.29%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

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

$22.22 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$93.2 GGP 69.2

-44.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

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

$201 MX$3,480

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$87.7 GGP 65.2

-10.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$2,034 GGP 1,511

-52.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$2,028 GGP 1,507

-76.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Sampson: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,034 in Saint Sampson. 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 $81.0 in Saint Sampson. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $17.00 in Saint Sampson – so Saint Sampson wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sampson: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Sampson is pricier by about 83%, 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 $3,561 in Saint Sampson. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1340% cheaper in Saint Sampson – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $81.0 in Saint Sampson. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 Sampson at $2,374. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Sampson 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 Sampson makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.