😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $357 in Santa Clara, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $484 in Santa Clara, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $611 in Santa Clara, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 260% more than Santa Clara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Santa Clara are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Santa Clara73% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
-
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Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
-
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Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
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Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
-
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
-
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White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
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Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
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Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
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Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
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Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
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Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
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Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
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Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
-
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Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
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Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
-
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Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
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Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
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Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
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Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
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Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
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Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
-
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
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-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$124.3KCUP 3.0M
-75.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$150.4KCUP 3.6M
-84.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$7.20CUP 173
620.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
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Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$350CUP 8,407
174.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$352CUP 8,450
32.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$746CUP 17.9K
114.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$604CUP 14.5K
100.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$283CUP 6,791
1293.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$295CUP 7,074
2087.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Santa Clara
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$29.58CUP 710
2335.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.62
18.71%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Santa Clara: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $350 in Santa Clara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 2335% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Santa Clara: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Santa Clara cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 260%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $536 in Santa Clara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Clara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Santa Clara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Clara, where all-in costs run around $357, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Santa Clara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Clara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santa Clara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Santa Clara. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado