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 8.2% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 13% cheaper than Santiago without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$200
$10.82 CLP 9,591
7.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$738
$54.8 CLP 48.6K
-21.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$183
$8.25 CLP 7,310
28.48%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$3.27 CLP 2,898
9.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.08
$1.69 CLP 1,501
-14.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.50
$1.28 CLP 1,136
-29.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.4
$3.22 CLP 2,853
-5.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$78.8
$4.20 CLP 3,720
8.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.07
$1.18 CLP 1,046
22.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.55
$1.51 CLP 1,337
21.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.77
$2.09 CLP 1,852
-22.97%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$4.20 CLP 3,719
-39.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$10.64 CLP 9,435
-19.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$146
$6.84 CLP 6,067
23.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$10.98 CLP 9,734
-1.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.13
$2.02 CLP 1,793
35.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.77
$1.57 CLP 1,394
-5.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.55
$2.13 CLP 1,887
-8.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.38
$1.85 CLP 1,636
16.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$31.88
$1.89 CLP 1,678
-2.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.64 CLP 1,452
33.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.52
$1.34 CLP 1,187
-20.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.71
$1.24 CLP 1,100
-12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.1
$5.65 CLP 5,005
-28.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$181
$6.52 CLP 5,779
60.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.56
$1.56 CLP 1,382
5.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.01
$2.52 CLP 2,233
1.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$0.90 CLP 802
-37.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$453
$42.13 CLP 37.4K
-37.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.2
$0.47 CLP 418
568.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$40.96
$1.45 CLP 1,287
63.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.0
$11.61 CLP 10.3K
-72.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.70
$1.42 CLP 1,259
-7.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$527.4K
$19.2K CLP 17.1M
58.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$411.4K
$22.5K CLP 19.9M
6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,436
$131 CLP 115.9K
-36.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$383
$13.65 CLP 12.1K
62.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$507
$21.78 CLP 19.3K
34.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$884
$34.16 CLP 30.3K
49.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$323
$20.54 CLP 18.2K
-9.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.4
$6.54 CLP 5,798
-25.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,431
$427 CLP 378.5K
-53.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$89.9K
$8,589 CLP 7.6M
-39.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$621
$56.5 CLP 50.1K
-36.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$680
$33.43 CLP 29.6K
17.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,387
$76.0 CLP 67.4K
5.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,512
$84.0 CLP 74.4K
4.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.6K
$518 CLP 459.5K
85.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,326
$460 CLP 407.5K
4.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.4K
$992 CLP 879.3K
65.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.6K
$899 CLP 797.4K
32.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.3K
$2,828 CLP 2.5M
39.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$112.5K
$2,986 CLP 2.6M
118.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Santiago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.5K
$848 CLP 751.8K
-14.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.18
120.46%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Santiago: April 12, 2026

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

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