Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Santa Rosa, Argentina

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Santa Rosa: $1,204 and $1,189 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Santa Rosa, Argentina
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Santa Rosa
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,189
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Rosa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,189 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Santa Rosa $1,189

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,054 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Santa Rosa $2,054

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,919 in Santa Rosa, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Santa Rosa $2,919

Playa del Carmen and Santa Rosa have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Playa del Carmen and Santa Rosa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Santa Rosa 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$15.35 ARS 23.6K
-28.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$59.5 ARS 91.6K
-27.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$13.37 ARS 20.6K
-11.89%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$3.42 ARS 5,255
11.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$2.38 ARS 3,662
-46.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$2.03 ARS 3,120
-61.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$3.44 ARS 5,285
-7.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$3.53 ARS 5,434
39.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.36 ARS 2,094
3.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$2.12 ARS 3,264
4.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$1.95 ARS 2,994
-27.18%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$3.12 ARS 4,804
-19.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$10.72 ARS 16.5K
-32.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$7.34 ARS 11.3K
4.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$12.82 ARS 19.7K
-1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$2.64 ARS 4,055
5.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$2.22 ARS 3,415
-38.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$1.38 ARS 2,123
84.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$2.30 ARS 3,538
-7.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$1.11 ARS 1,715
74.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$0.90 ARS 1,389
110.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$1.59 ARS 2,441
-25.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$3.04 ARS 4,683
41.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$5.57 ARS 8,562
78.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.91 ARS 2,939
-17.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$3.62 ARS 5,571
-26.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$1.05 ARS 1,615
-47.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$1.38 ARS 2,129
260.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.38 ARS 2,124
4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$22.9K ARS 35.2M
-9.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$32.8K ARS 50.5M
-28.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$117 ARS 179.7K
-27.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$14.41 ARS 22.2K
62.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$22.18 ARS 34.1K
29.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$29.52 ARS 45.4K
93.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$20.13 ARS 31.0K
43.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$10.18 ARS 15.7K
-49.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$218 ARS 335.7K
-5.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$4,231 ARS 6.5M
-7.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$121 ARS 186.0K
-64.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$93.4 ARS 143.7K
-55.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$103 ARS 158.6K
-28.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$112 ARS 172.1K
-20.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$564 ARS 867.8K
73.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$283 ARS 434.8K
34.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$909 ARS 1.4M
87.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$798 ARS 1.2M
34.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$1,124 ARS 1.7M
447.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Santa Rosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Santa Rosa
$283 25.8% $98
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Santa Rosa
$258 * 1.3% $3.3
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Santa Rosa
$246 21.5% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Santa Rosa
$153 12.1% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Santa Rosa
$193 72.9% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Santa Rosa
$50 25.9% $17
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Santa Rosa
$5.6 * 88.9% $45

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $564 in Santa Rosa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $60 in Santa Rosa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇷 Santa Rosa
🕒 Local time
20:04 8:04 PM
22:04 10:04 PM
2 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
116,083
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1,538 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.5 USD). 1 EUR = 1,712 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Santa Rosa 6,800 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Santa Rosa

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 Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,783 in Santa Rosa. 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 Rosa, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $564 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rosa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen and $60 in Santa Rosa. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $218 in Santa Rosa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rosa?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,189 in Santa Rosa. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Santa Rosa?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,189 in Santa Rosa to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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