๐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,754 in San Donร di Piave, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,685 in San Donร di Piave, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,617 in San Donร di Piave, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 26% cheaper than San Donร di Piave, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while San Donร di Piave is 31% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$20.59โฌ17.72
-43.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$85.4โฌ73.5
-51.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$10.49โฌ9.03
1.43%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$2.12โฌ1.82
66.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$3.56โฌ3.06
-57.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$1.67โฌ1.44
-41.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$6.21โฌ5.35
-52.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$4.66โฌ4.02
-4.51%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$1.60โฌ1.38
-13.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$1.98โฌ1.71
-4.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$2.79โฌ2.40
-41.22%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$4.37โฌ3.76
-42.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$14.46โฌ12.45
-42.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$10.33โฌ8.89
-19.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$18.45โฌ15.88
-41.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$2.88โฌ2.48
-9.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$2.45โฌ2.11
-40.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$2.56โฌ2.21
-25.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$2.57โฌ2.21
-19.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$1.62โฌ1.40
9.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$1.70โฌ1.46
28.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$1.29โฌ1.11
-19.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.48โฌ0.41
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$6.53โฌ5.63
-37.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.95โฌ5.99
48.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$1.47โฌ1.26
16.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$2.02โฌ1.74
27.72%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.75โฌ1.51
-70.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$44.18โฌ38.04
-40.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$5.70โฌ4.91
-42.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$1.84โฌ1.58
35.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$43.15โฌ37.15
-92.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$2.03โฌ1.75
-35.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$32.7Kโฌ28.1K
-7.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$29.8Kโฌ25.7K
-21.45%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$223โฌ192
-62.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$13.12โฌ11.29
69.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$32.62โฌ28.08
-10.06%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$54.7โฌ47.06
-5.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$23.44โฌ20.18
-21.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$9.42โฌ8.11
-46.18%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$572โฌ493
-64.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$11.9Kโฌ10.2K
-56.15%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$80.5โฌ69.3
-54.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$37.28โฌ32.09
6.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$86.5โฌ74.5
-9.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$144โฌ124
-39.65%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$761โฌ655
27.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$582โฌ501
-19.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,226โฌ1,055
33.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$929โฌ800
31.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$2,933โฌ2,525
34.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$2,099โฌ1,807
209.60%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
San Donร di Piave
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,758โฌ1,513
-62.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.2
171.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for San Donร di Piave: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $761 in San Donร di Piave. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 165% higher in San Donร di Piave, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $85.0 in San Donร di Piave. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $311 โ 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 San Donร di Piave: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Donร di Piave cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ San Donร di Piave is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,630 in San Donร di Piave. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs San Donร di Piave?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,754 in San Donร di Piave. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or San Donร di Piave?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in San Donร di Piave at $1,754. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Donร di Piave it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or San Donร di Piave more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or San Donร di Piave?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Donร di Piave makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared