Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sancti Spíritus Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sancti Spíritus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $335 in Sancti Spíritus, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $579 in Sancti Spíritus, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $824 in Sancti Spíritus, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 287% more than Sancti Spíritus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sancti Spíritus are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Sancti Spíritus 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$6.98 CUP 167

68.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$25.35 CUP 608

64.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$5.08 CUP 122

109.45%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.98 CUP 23.56

54.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.77 CUP 18.54

25.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$3.01 CUP 72.3

-1.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$1.96 CUP 47.13

127.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.01 CUP 24.36

62.38%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.44 CUP 58.5

2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$4.06 CUP 97.6

105.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$5.04 CUP 121

65.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$10.11 CUP 243

6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$2.96 CUP 71.1

-12.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$0.52 CUP 12.52

180.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$0.51 CUP 12.35

272.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.02 CUP 24.48

103.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.94 CUP 46.64

-8.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.99 CUP 47.68

10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.02 CUP 24.40

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$1.98 CUP 47.63

106.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$13.19 CUP 317

-21.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$2.02 CUP 48.42

27.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.03 CUP 24.71

216.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$1.01 CUP 24.33

146.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.03 CUP 48.71

-35.47%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$50.9K CUP 1.2M

-40.50%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$69.2K CUP 1.7M

-66.16%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$30.30 CUP 727

173.50%

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$24.72 CUP 593

49.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$15.19 CUP 365

161.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$40.28 CUP 967

94.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$30.34 CUP 728

187.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$19.63 CUP 471

3282.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sancti Spíritus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3282% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Sancti Spíritus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $159 – making Sancti Spíritus 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 Sancti Spíritus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 287%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $503 in Sancti Spíritus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $25.00 in Sancti Spíritus. 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 Sancti Spíritus, where all-in costs run around $335, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Sancti Spíritus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sancti Spíritus – 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 Sancti Spíritus. 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.