Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Diego, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 36.7% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 68.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 51.8% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 59.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$22.95 $22.95
-47.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$99.8 $99.8
-57.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$14.8 $14.8
-29.26%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$6.07 $6.07
-40.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.08 $3.08
-53.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.59 $2.59
-65.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$7.88 $7.88
-60.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$8.95 $8.95
-48.83%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.26 $1.26
9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.5 $4.5
-58.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$4.42 $4.42
-64.48%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$5.04 $5.04
-49.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$13.66 $13.66
-36.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$12.77 $12.77
-33.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$18.5 $18.5
-40.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$4.6 $4.6
-40.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.71 $1.71
-11.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$3.92 $3.92
-52.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.73 $4.73
-53.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$2.98 $2.98
-37.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.47 $2.47
-11.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.27 $2.27
-52.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.5 $2.5
-56.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$12.2 $12.2
-67.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$15.29 $15.29
-42.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.75 $1.75
-1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.54 $2.54
2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.56 $2.56
-79.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$72.1 $72.1
-63.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$2.97 $2.97
9.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$2.07 $2.07
14.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$27.69 $27.69
-88.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.26 $1.26
3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$30.7K $30.7K
-1.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$26.6K $26.6K
-9.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$275 $275
-69.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$67 $67
-66.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$79.1 $79.1
-61.92%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$66.6 $66.6
-21.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$24.66 $24.66
-24.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.76 $15.76
-67.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,625 $1,625
-87.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$28.6K $28.6K
-81.38%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$58.1 $58.1
-38.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$58.8 $58.8
-32.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$98 $98
-19.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$116 $116
-23.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$2,808 $2,808
-65.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$2,412 $2,412
-80.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$5,005 $5,005
-66.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$4,128 $4,128
-70.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$9,534 $9,534
-67.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$6,940 $6,940
8.49%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$5,341 $5,341
-85.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.39
78.72%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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