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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $437 in San Lorenzo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $718 in San Lorenzo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $999 in San Lorenzo, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 187% more than San Lorenzo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and San Lorenzo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, San Lorenzo 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$4.41 ₲26.6K

171.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$26.20 ₲158.0K

59.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$4.66 ₲28.1K

130.69%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$1.90 ₲11.5K

84.21%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.83 ₲5,033

74.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.46 ₲2,779

91.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.46 ₲8,815

102.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$1.92 ₲11.6K

134.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.82 ₲4,959

74.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.52 ₲3,158

253.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$0.81 ₲4,876

93.83%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.64 ₲9,889

53.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$5.98 ₲36.0K

38.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$2.90 ₲17.5K

190.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$6.00 ₲36.2K

78.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.68 ₲10.1K

55.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$0.71 ₲4,298

102.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$0.77 ₲4,619

154.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.07 ₲6,428

95.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.69 ₲4,149

168.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$0.77 ₲4,652

181.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.42 ₲2,519

145.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.36 ₲2,197

197.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$1.42 ₲8,538

188.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$3.72 ₲22.4K

173.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$0.58 ₲3,504

189.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$0.76 ₲4,576

232.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.48 ₲2,892

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$34.45 ₲207.8K

-24.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$0.60 ₲3,610

438.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.74 ₲4,486

225.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$3.92 ₲23.7K

-17.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$0.82 ₲4,944

60.98%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$14.8K ₲89.2M

100.82%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$23.7K ₲143.0M

-0.22%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$41.74 ₲251.8K

96.48%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$13.75 ₲82.9K

66.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$15.43 ₲93.1K

95.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$14.90 ₲89.9K

248.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$8.75 ₲52.7K

111.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$4.37 ₲26.3K

13.96%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$162 ₲974.7K

22.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$3,227 ₲19.5M

65.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$48.87 ₲294.7K

-27.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$30.72 ₲185.2K

31.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$72.9 ₲439.8K

8.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$48.42 ₲292.0K

83.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

10.17

12.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Lorenzo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $26.00 in San Lorenzo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $116 – making San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 187%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $655 in San Lorenzo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $437 in San Lorenzo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in San Lorenzo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Lorenzo, where all-in costs run around $437, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Lorenzo. 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.