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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 25.9% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 71.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 54.8% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 65% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$20.55 $20.55
-41.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$65.3 $65.3
-34.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.69 $11.69
-10.44%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.06 $5.06
-28.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.17 $3.17
-54.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.45 $2.45
-63.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$6.97 $6.97
-55.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$9.85 $9.85
-53.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.49 $1.49
-7.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.96 $4.96
-62.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$3.32 $3.32
-52.71%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.78 $4.78
-46.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$14.61 $14.61
-41.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$15.34 $15.34
-44.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$22.18 $22.18
-50.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$6 $6
-54.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.18 $2.18
-30.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$5 $5
-62.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$6.47 $6.47
-66.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.6 $3.6
-48.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$4.45 $4.45
-50.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.75 $2.75
-61.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.74 $2.74
-60.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$11.16 $11.16
-64.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$13.76 $13.76
-35.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.77 $1.77
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.43 $3.43
-23.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$4.37 $4.37
-88.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$66.5 $66.5
-60.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$3.54 $3.54
-8.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.93 $1.93
23.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$30.31 $30.31
-89.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.24 $1.24
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$30K $30K
1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
-8.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$257 $257
-67.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$47.84 $47.84
-53.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$63.5 $63.5
-52.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$94.4 $94.4
-44.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.8 $15.8
-67.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,987 $1,987
-89.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$26K $26K
-79.49%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$53.8 $53.8
-33.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$29.65 $29.65
34.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$86.8 $86.8
-8.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$125 $125
-29.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$2,795 $2,795
-65.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$2,869 $2,869
-83.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$5,762 $5,762
-71.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$5,478 $5,478
-78.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$3,115 $3,115
-1.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,308 $2,308
226.28%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$7,443 $7,443
-89.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.32
80.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.