Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Ignacio de Velasco Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and San Ignacio de Velasco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $107 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $176 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $246 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1083% more than San Ignacio de Velasco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and San Ignacio de Velasco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, San Ignacio de Velasco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

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

$1.43 MX$24.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.85

$0.43 BOB 4.23

290.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.83

$2.51 BOB 24.95

-12.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.41

$0.40 BOB 3.93

327.50%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.20

$1.97 BOB 19.63

39.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$2.02 BOB 20.06

374.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$1.46 BOB 14.52

517.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$2.54 BOB 25.26

404.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.74

$1.62 BOB 16.14

78.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.78

$1.27 BOB 12.63

18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.98

$0.80 BOB 7.92

168.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.91

$0.56 BOB 5.60

303.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.10

$0.86 BOB 8.60

130.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.26

$0.40 BOB 3.95

397.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.25

$0.32 BOB 3.18

284.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

$0.68 BOB 6.76

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.3

$1.03 BOB 10.24

341.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$4.10 BOB 40.76

152.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

$1.03 BOB 10.21

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.45

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

$22.5K MX$388.3K

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

$26.1K MX$448.7K

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

$91.4 MX$1,573

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

$25.20 MX$434

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,157

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.7

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

$224 MX$3,851

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,719

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

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 12, 2026

Last update for San Ignacio de Velasco: September 14, 2026

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 Ignacio de Velasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1083%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $161 in San Ignacio de Velasco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $107 in San Ignacio de Velasco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 156% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Ignacio de Velasco, where all-in costs run around $107, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In San Ignacio de Velasco 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 Ignacio de Velasco – 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 San Ignacio de Velasco. 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.