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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 41.4% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 72% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 49% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 54.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$22.73 $22.73
-47.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$64.9 $64.9
-34.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.05 $11.05
-5.25%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.77 $5.77
-37.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.6 $2.6
-44.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.56 $2.56
-65.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$5.94 $5.94
-47.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$9.47 $9.47
-51.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.27 $1.27
8.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.96 $3.96
-53.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$6.91 $6.91
-77.28%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.54 $4.54
-43.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$15.52 $15.52
-44.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$12.85 $12.85
-33.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$18.39 $18.39
-40.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$4.98 $4.98
-45.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.91 $2.91
-48.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$6.18 $6.18
-69.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$8.42 $8.42
-73.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.76 $3.76
-50.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$3.79 $3.79
-42.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.5 $2.5
-57.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.96 $2.96
-63.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$10.81 $10.81
-63.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$12.59 $12.59
-29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.1 $2.1
-18.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.49 $3.49
-25.21%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.53 $1.53
-66.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$30.14 $30.14
-11.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$3.59 $3.59
-9.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.65 $1.65
44.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$28.66 $28.66
-89.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.23 $1.23
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$27K $27K
12.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$27.1K $27.1K
-11.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$187 $187
-54.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$51.3 $51.3
-56.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$61.6 $61.6
-51.10%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$247 $247
-78.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$39.9 $39.9
-53.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$14.71 $14.71
-65.53%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,967 $1,967
-89.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$23.6K $23.6K
-77.44%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$41.12 $41.12
-13.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$37.89 $37.89
5.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$101 $101
-22.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$122 $122
-27.47%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$3,340 $3,340
-71.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$2,833 $2,833
-83.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$4,080 $4,080
-59.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$3,280 $3,280
-63.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$7,615 $7,615
-59.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$5,279 $5,279
42.63%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$5,319 $5,319
-85.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.32
80.70%

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 Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

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