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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $164 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $266 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $368 in San Ignacio de Velasco, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 691% 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 3% lower, San Ignacio de Velasco 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$0.70 BOB 4.78

97.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$1.70 BOB 11.67

11.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$0.75 BOB 5.15

118.67%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$3.54 BOB 24.26

-29.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.57 BOB 24.48

133.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$2.54 BOB 17.40

228.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$4.29 BOB 29.44

150.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.87 BOB 19.68

-9.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.19 BOB 15.03

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.48 BOB 10.18

28.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.04 BOB 7.13

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.46 BOB 10.04

21.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.75 BOB 5.15

192.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.55 BOB 3.78

89.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.14 BOB 7.79

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$1.75 BOB 12.02

133.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$7.42 BOB 50.9

39.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.77 BOB 12.11

-3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 San Ignacio de Velasco: June 1, 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 691%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $246 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $164 in San Ignacio de Velasco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $164, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.