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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $991 in San Ignacio, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,265 in San Ignacio, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,539 in San Ignacio, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than San Ignacio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and San Ignacio are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, San Ignacio 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

$15.29 BZD 30.58

-23.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$788

$45.39 BZD 90.8

2.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.2

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

$1.37 MX$23.23

$1.02 BZD 2.05

34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.09

$1.02 BZD 2.04

-18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

$2.95 BZD 5.91

13.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

$4.02 BZD 8.05

71.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.20

$8.23 BZD 16.47

-78.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.21

$2.56 BZD 5.12

-11.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.91

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.19

$4.72 BZD 9.44

-42.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

$15.14 BZD 30.28

-39.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

$3.76 BZD 7.52

137.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.1

$5.10 BZD 10.20

-40.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.28

$2.94 BZD 5.87

-23.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.88

$1.52 BZD 3.05

31.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.90

$1.53 BZD 3.06

34.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.35

$1.02 BZD 2.04

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.38

$1.54 BZD 3.08

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.70

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.69

$2.03 BZD 4.07

-71.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.26

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

$22.3K MX$377.4K

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

$25.9K MX$438.7K

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

$89.1 MX$1,507

$69.5 BZD 139

28.17%

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

$25.04 MX$423

$149 BZD 299

-83.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,146

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$489

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.4

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

$225 MX$3,803

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,386

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,557

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$589 BZD 1,179

81.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,852

$354 BZD 709

14.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

$983 BZD 1,966

-23.84%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for San Ignacio: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $589 in San Ignacio. 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 31% higher in San Ignacio, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in San Ignacio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $259 – making San Ignacio 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 Ignacio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,487 in San Ignacio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Ignacio, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $45.00 in San Ignacio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Ignacio, where all-in costs run around $991, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In San Ignacio 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 – 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. 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.