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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 40.8% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 71.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 56.5% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 63% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$20.3 $20.3
-40.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$100 $100
-57.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.54 $11.54
-9.27%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.79 $5.79
-37.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.22 $3.22
-55.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.47 $2.47
-63.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$8.8 $8.8
-64.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$10.92 $10.92
-58.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.46 $1.46
-5.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.94 $4.94
-62.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.19 $3.19
-50.78%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.85 $4.85
-47.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$21.13 $21.13
-59.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$15.17 $15.17
-43.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$22.45 $22.45
-51.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$6.08 $6.08
-55.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.46 $2.46
-38.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$4.79 $4.79
-60.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$6.75 $6.75
-67.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.44 $3.44
-45.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$4.28 $4.28
-48.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.97 $2.97
-63.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.77 $2.77
-60.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$11.32 $11.32
-65.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$14.95 $14.95
-40.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.35 $3.35
-22.09%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.53 $2.53
-79.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$89 $89
-70.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$3.42 $3.42
-5.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.89 $1.89
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$29.82 $29.82
-89.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.31 $1.31
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$30.2K $30.2K
0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$27K $27K
-11.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$292 $292
-71.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$49.13 $49.13
-54.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$67.9 $67.9
-55.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$122 $122
-57.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$30.12 $30.12
-37.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.45 $15.45
-67.18%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,985 $1,985
-89.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-79.62%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$52.5 $52.5
-31.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$43.85 $43.85
-9.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$89.8 $89.8
-12.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$138 $138
-36.04%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$3,022 $3,022
-68.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$2,672 $2,672
-82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$5,283 $5,283
-68.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$4,622 $4,622
-73.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$10.6K $10.6K
-70.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$9,587 $9,587
-21.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
San Jose, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$5,864 $5,864
-86.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

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