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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $997 in Samara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,718 in Samara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,440 in Samara, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 30% more than Samara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Samara are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Samara 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$12.92 ₽954

-9.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$50.5 ₽3,727

-17.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$5.63 ₽415

88.99%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$2.32 ₽171

51.72%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.17 ₽86.5

29.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.70 ₽51.3

38.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$1.12 ₽82.9

163.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$2.52 ₽186

76.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.07 ₽79.2

28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.61 ₽44.69

209.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$1.24 ₽91.8

32.26%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$1.80 ₽133

39.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$8.93 ₽659

-6.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$5.10 ₽376

63.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$8.69 ₽641

23.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$1.56 ₽115

66.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.85 ₽136

-21.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$2.18 ₽161

-12.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$2.32 ₽171

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$0.63 ₽46.83

182.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.51 ₽37.96

329.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.80 ₽133

-42.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.61 ₽44.75

77.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$3.09 ₽228

32.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$4.92 ₽363

109.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$0.87 ₽64.2

96.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.32 ₽172

11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.50 ₽37.05

2.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$40.57 ₽2,994

-34.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$3.43 ₽253

-4.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$0.39 ₽28.61

538.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$3.72 ₽275

-12.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.74 ₽55.0

77.03%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$48.7K ₽3.6M

-37.80%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$44.6K ₽3.3M

-47.51%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$121 ₽8,917

-31.42%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$6.46 ₽477

243.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$8.49 ₽627

245.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$34.59 ₽2,552

49.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$13.70 ₽1,011

33.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$4.05 ₽299

25.19%

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

$201 MX$3,480

$313 ₽23.1K

-35.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$6,042 ₽445.8K

-13.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$99.4 ₽7,333

-62.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$48.35 ₽3,568

-17.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$129 ₽9,549

-39.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$74.7 ₽5,515

16.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$469 ₽34.6K

107.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$281 ₽20.8K

66.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$1,234 ₽91.1K

32.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$714 ₽52.7K

70.99%

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

$1,030 ₽76.0K

-35.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

15.33

-25.51%

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 Samara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $469 in Samara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Samara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $51.0 in Samara. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $183 in Samara – so Samara 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 Samara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,495 in Samara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samara, 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 $997 in Samara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 53% less in Samara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Samara, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Samara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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