Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Santiago

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 30.3% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 2.2% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$4.41 PAB 4.41
171.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$30.52 PAB 30.52
39.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$4.89 PAB 4.89
114.11%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$3.62 PAB 3.62
-0.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$0.68 PAB 0.68
111.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$0.82 PAB 0.82
8.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$0.99 PAB 0.99
212.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$1.97 PAB 1.97
132.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.8 PAB 1.8
-23.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$2.44 PAB 2.44
-24.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$2.5 PAB 2.5
-37.20%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$2.94 PAB 2.94
-13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$11.56 PAB 11.56
-25.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$7.15 PAB 7.15
19.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$9.97 PAB 9.97
10.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$3.42 PAB 3.42
-20.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.57 PAB 1.57
-3.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$2.86 PAB 2.86
-34.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$3.21 PAB 3.21
-31.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$2.19 PAB 2.19
-14.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.88 PAB 2.88
-23.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.24 PAB 2.24
-52.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.51 PAB 1.51
-27.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$5.98 PAB 5.98
-33.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$10.15 PAB 10.15
-12.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$1.28 PAB 1.28
34.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$2.45 PAB 2.45
6.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$2.55 PAB 2.55
27.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.84 PAB 1.84
29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$22.22 PAB 22.22
-86.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.93 PAB 0.93
40.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$19.6K PAB 19.6K
54.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$20.7K PAB 20.7K
16.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$120 PAB 120
-29.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$14.76 PAB 14.76
50.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$42.61 PAB 42.61
-29.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$7.77 PAB 7.77
-34.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$473 PAB 473
-57.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
-66.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$50.6 PAB 50.6
-29.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$45.72 PAB 45.72
-12.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$88.2 PAB 88.2
-10.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$120 PAB 120
-26.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$449 PAB 449
114.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$638 PAB 638
-25.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$650 PAB 650
154.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$1,112 PAB 1,112
8.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.23
83.31%

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 Santiago: October 28, 2025

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