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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $89.3 in Say'un, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $149 in Say'un, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $209 in Say'un, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1318% 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 7% lower, Say'un 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$811

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.5

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

$1.43 MX$24.58

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.86

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.84

$1.07 YER 253

105.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.42

$2.26 YER 534

-24.34%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.21

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.75

$2.22 YER 524

30.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.79

$2.22 YER 525

-32.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.00

$2.25 YER 532

-4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.92

$2.14 YER 506

5.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.11

$2.14 YER 506

-7.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.27

$2.26 YER 535

-11.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.26

$1.02 YER 242

20.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.61

$1.01 YER 239

18.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 YER 332

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.61

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.46

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

$22.5K MX$388.4K

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

$26.1K MX$448.8K

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

$91.4 MX$1,574

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

$25.20 MX$434

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,158

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

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

$224 MX$3,852

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$811

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$763

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,380

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,596

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,721

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Say'un: September 13, 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 1318%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $134 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $89.3 in Say'un. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 203% 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 $89.3, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.