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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,087 in Senta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,592 in Senta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,096 in Senta, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 19% more than Senta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Senta are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Senta 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$8.99 RSD 905

30.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$39.42 RSD 3,964

5.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$9.27 RSD 933

14.78%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.99 RSD 200

76.88%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$2.21 RSD 223

-31.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.37 RSD 138

-29.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$2.51 RSD 253

17.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$3.49 RSD 351

27.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.15 RSD 115

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.66 RSD 66.0

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.99 RSD 200

-17.59%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.30 RSD 231

9.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$8.80 RSD 885

-5.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$6.05 RSD 608

37.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$11.89 RSD 1,196

-9.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$0.96 RSD 96.8

170.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.76 RSD 177

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.61 RSD 162

18.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$2.00 RSD 201

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.10 RSD 111

61.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.77 RSD 77.1

184.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.72 RSD 72.3

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.72 RSD 72.0

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$4.21 RSD 423

-3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$7.04 RSD 708

46.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$0.88 RSD 88.3

94.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$1.34 RSD 135

92.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.93 RSD 93.1

-45.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$27.52 RSD 2,768

-3.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.08 RSD 109

201.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.70 RSD 70.2

255.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$7.84 RSD 788

-58.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.74 RSD 175

-24.71%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$30.3K RSD 3.0M

-0.09%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

-12.21%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$177 RSD 17.8K

-53.09%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$17.87 RSD 1,797

24.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$32.96 RSD 3,315

-10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$30.92 RSD 3,109

66.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$16.43 RSD 1,652

11.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$6.83 RSD 687

-25.77%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$180 RSD 18.1K

11.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$3,912 RSD 393.4K

33.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$62.2 RSD 6,255

-40.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$34.75 RSD 3,494

14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$83.1 RSD 8,355

-5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$87.2 RSD 8,771

-0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$374 RSD 37.6K

159.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$295 RSD 29.6K

58.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$575 RSD 57.8K

185.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$413 RSD 41.6K

195.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$2,303 RSD 231.6K

71.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,362 RSD 137.0K

376.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$806 RSD 81.1K

-17.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

42.75%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Senta: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $374 in Senta. 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 21% higher in Senta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.00 in Senta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $197 – making Senta 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 Senta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,631 in Senta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Senta, 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,087 in Senta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Senta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Senta, where all-in costs run around $1,087, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Senta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Senta – 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 Senta. 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.