Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Santa Rita, Guam

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $1,770 in Santa Rita, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Santa Rita, Guam
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Santa Rita
🇬🇺 Guam
$1,770
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Santa Rita

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Santa Rita actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,770 in Santa Rita, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Santa Rita $1,770

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,698 in Santa Rita, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Santa Rita $2,698

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,627 in Santa Rita, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Santa Rita $3,627

Playa del Carmen is about 32% cheaper than Santa Rita, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Santa Rita is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$200
$19.62 $19.62
-45.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$819
$75.7 $75.7
-42.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$220
$6.08 $6.08
93.91%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.8
$5.02 $5.02
-24.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.26
$2.48 $2.48
-47.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.59
$2.46 $2.46
-66.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.9
$8.11 $8.11
-61.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.3
$9.95 $9.95
-50.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.35
$3.72 $3.72
-62.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.07
$4.31 $4.31
-48.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.54
$2.70 $2.70
-45.56%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.70
$3.83 $3.83
-34.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$20.13 $20.13
-63.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$6.53 $6.53
21.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$241
$9.65 $9.65
33.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.2
$4.90 $4.90
-40.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.87
$2.59 $2.59
-46.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.59
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.97
$4.44 $4.44
-54.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.88
$4.13 $4.13
-51.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.60
$2.80 $2.80
-32.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.41
$2.03 $2.03
-43.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.17
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.9
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$184
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.66
$2.79 $2.79
-43.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.3
$1.64 $1.64
67.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.63
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$512
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.1
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.8
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$31.43 $31.43
-82.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.58
$1.38 $1.38
10.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$396.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$435.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,562
$253 $253
-66.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$434
$90.0 $90.0
-74.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$516
$81.1 $81.1
-65.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,056
$101 $101
-43.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$527
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.5
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,873
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$813
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$796
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,361
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,653
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.6K
$910 $910
9.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,152
$596 $596
-35.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.3K
$2,011 $2,011
-16.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.2K
$1,101 $1,101
-1.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.8K
$300 $300
1947.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.6K
$5,555 $5,555
-85.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
0
-

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Santa Rita: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Santa Rita
–
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Santa Rita
–
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Santa Rita
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Santa Rita
–
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Santa Rita
–
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Santa Rita
–
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Santa Rita
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $910 in Santa Rita. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Santa Rita are about 6.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $76 in Santa Rita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $334 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇬🇺 Santa Rita
🕒 Local time
14:13 2:13 PM
05:13 5:13 AM
15 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
7,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 21.01 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Santa Rita 13,210 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Santa Rita

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Santa Rita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Santa Rita?
Yes – Santa Rita is pricier by about 47%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,655 in Santa Rita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Santa Rita?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $995 in Playa del Carmen and $910 in Santa Rita. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Santa Rita?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Santa Rita, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rita?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $76 in Santa Rita. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rita?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Santa Rita at $1,770. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Rita it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rita?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Playa del Carmen to $1,770 in Santa Rita. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Rita makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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