Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Say'un Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Say'un

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $91.8 in Say'un, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $154 in Say'un, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $216 in Say'un, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1301% more than Say'un, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Say'un are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Say'un 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$1.09 YER 260

72.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$2.26 YER 540

-27.88%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$2.24 YER 533

18.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$2.21 YER 528

-32.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$2.22 YER 530

-10.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$2.22 YER 528

-6.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$2.18 YER 521

-17.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$2.26 YER 538

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$1.03 YER 245

4.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.98 YER 234

6.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 YER 345

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Say'un: April 27, 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

Playa del Carmen vs Say'un: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1301%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $138 in Say'un. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $91.8 in Say'un. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 174% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Say'un, where all-in costs run around $91.8, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Say'un it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Say'un. 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.