Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sanford, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sanford, NC

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 20.4% cheaper than Sanford, NC without rent, and 50.3% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 44% cheaper than Sanford, NC without rent, and 35.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$15.93 $15.93
-24.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$50.7 $50.7
-16.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$9.83 $9.83
6.51%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$2.32 $2.32
55.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$1.79 $1.79
-19.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.95 $1.95
-54.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$3.82 $3.82
-19.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$7.52 $7.52
-39.10%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$0.99 $0.99
39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.38 $3.38
-45.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$4.27 $4.27
-63.23%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.45 $4.45
-42.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$16.9 $16.9
-49.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$16.43 $16.43
-48.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$16.83 $16.83
-34.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.71 $5.71
-52.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.27 $1.27
18.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$6.5 $6.5
-71.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.03 $4.03
-45.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.71 $3.71
-49.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.72 $2.72
-19.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.56 $1.56
-31.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.89 $1.89
-42.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$7.55 $7.55
-47.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$15.27 $15.27
-41.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.07 $2.07
-16.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.2 $3.2
-18.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.05 $2.05
-74.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$3.05 $3.05
6.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.81 $1.81
31.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$29.89 $29.89
-89.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.82 $0.82
59.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$34.4K $34.4K
-11.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$25.2K $25.2K
-4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$141 $141
-40.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$44.49 $44.49
-50.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$71 $71
-57.56%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$43.56 $43.56
19.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$13.73 $13.73
-63.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,349 $1,349
-85.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$24.6K $24.6K
-78.35%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$49.86 $49.86
-28.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$35.55 $35.55
11.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$103 $103
-23.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$156 $156
-43.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,599 $1,599
-39.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$1,349 $1,349
-64.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$2,631 $2,631
-37.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$2,204 $2,204
-45.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$1,994 $1,994
54.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$1,934 $1,934
289.29%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sanford, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$3,562 $3,562
-77.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.51
75.42%

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 Sanford, NC: October 29, 2025

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