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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $562 in Sari, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $819 in Sari, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,076 in Sari, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 130% more than Sari, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sari are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Sari 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

$4.10 $4.10

186.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

$10.80 $10.80

286.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

$4.92 $4.92

111.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 $0.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

$0.77 $0.77

368.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MX$25.06

$0.46 $0.46

217.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

$0.52 $0.52

86.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$0.60 $0.60

138.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$0.57 $0.57

233.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$1.88 $1.88

-16.49%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$1.20 $1.20

120.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$3.44 $3.44

145.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$3.09 $3.09

177.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

$7.41 $7.41

48.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

$0.41 $0.41

558.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$0.90 $0.90

67.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

$0.84 $0.84

127.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

$0.66 $0.66

228.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

$0.51 $0.51

266.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

$0.51 $0.51

337.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$0.60 $0.60

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$0.15 $0.15

613.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 $0.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$1.98 $1.98

110.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

$0.14 $0.14

292.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

$9.92 $9.92

165.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$0.48 $0.48

566.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

$0.27 $0.27

811.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

$2.34 $2.34

36.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

$0.73 $0.73

80.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$518.8K

$79.6K $79.6K

-62.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$402.5K

$54.2K $54.2K

-56.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.4 MX$1,400

$15.63 $15.63

420.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.41 MX$386

$2.18 $2.18

927.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$5.67 $5.67

428.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

$31.88 $31.88

61.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

$10.81 $10.81

70.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

$1.02 $1.02

405.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,471

$49.13 $49.13

310.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

$784 $784

577.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

$30.84 $30.84

15.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

$34.39 $34.39

17.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

$123 $123

-35.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

$69.7 $69.7

24.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

$538 $538

76.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

$225 $225

112.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

$633 $633

155.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

$297 $297

312.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

$1,065 $1,065

276.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

$472 $472

1271.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

$380 $380

77.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

25.07

-54.45%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Sari: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $538 in Sari. 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 77% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Sari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $93.0 – making Sari the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 130%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $843 in Sari. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sari, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $562 in Sari. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 165% less in Sari. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sari, where all-in costs run around $562, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Sari it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sari – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sari. 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.