Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Antonio de Petrel Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Antonio de Petrel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $389 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $542 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $695 in San Antonio de Petrel, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 235% more than San Antonio de Petrel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and San Antonio de Petrel are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, San Antonio de Petrel 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$0.62 CLP 582

46.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.89 CLP 835

-32.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$0.82 CLP 770

539.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$3.13 CLP 2,943

16.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$1.51 CLP 1,421

1.99%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

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

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$21.05 CLP 19.8K

50.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$27.24 CLP 25.6K

152.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$4.85 CLP 4,566

0.21%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$65.5 CLP 61.6K

244.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$1,201 CLP 1.1M

249.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$75.2 CLP 70.7K

6.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$324 CLP 305.4K

234.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$270 CLP 254.0K

51.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$633 CLP 595.7K

211.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$484 CLP 455.3K

164.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$426 CLP 401.0K

81.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for San Antonio de Petrel: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $324 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 82% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 San Antonio de Petrel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 235%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $584 in San Antonio de Petrel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Antonio de Petrel, 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $389 in San Antonio de Petrel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $65.5 in San Antonio de Petrel. 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 San Antonio de Petrel, where all-in costs run around $389, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In San Antonio de Petrel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Antonio de Petrel – 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 San Antonio de Petrel. 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.