๐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $623 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $984 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,344 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen costs about 102% more than Sete Lagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Playa del Carmen and Sete Lagoas are more affordable than the global median โ Playa del Carmen6% lower, Sete Lagoas53% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$6.34R$31.51
84.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$20.74R$103
101.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$4.96R$24.66
109.68%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$0.52R$2.56
594.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$0.89R$4.41
65.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.56R$2.78
62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$1.39R$6.89
117.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$1.67R$8.29
167.66%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.85R$4.24
62.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.60R$3.00
206.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.61R$8.00
-
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.55R$7.68
65.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$5.49R$27.30
54.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$2.71R$13.47
213.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$7.32R$36.37
50.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$0.92R$4.56
196.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.06R$5.25
41.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$0.52R$2.59
276.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$0.92R$4.55
130.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.03R$5.11
80.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$0.53R$2.62
309.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.47R$2.31
127.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.48R$2.36
118.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$2.20R$10.95
90.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$7.86R$39.05
30.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$0.56R$2.80
198.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$0.87R$4.35
186.21%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.86R$4.27
-37.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$38.67R$192
-32.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$0.37R$1.84
737.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$0.27R$1.36
811.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$7.97R$39.62
-59.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.89R$4.42
41.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$12.7KR$63.2K
137.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$21.2KR$105.4K
10.53%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$44.90R$223
87.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$14.30R$71.1
55.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$17.79R$88.4
66.67%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$22.25R$111
136.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$21.46R$107
-14.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$3.71R$18.43
33.42%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$108R$535
84.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$6,767R$33.6K
-21.36%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$8.80R$43.71
308.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$9.24R$45.92
333.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$36.44R$181
116.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$35.37R$176
144.59%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$311R$1,547
213.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$220R$1,095
113.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$588R$2,924
171.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$427R$2,121
184.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,693R$8,414
138.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$1,174R$5,836
460.29%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$444R$2,208
60.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.83
5.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Sete Lagoas: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $311 in Sete Lagoas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 61% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $21 in Sete Lagoas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $129 โ making Sete Lagoas 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 Sete Lagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sete Lagoas cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $935 in Sete Lagoas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sete Lagoas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Sete Lagoas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $623 in Sete Lagoas. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 47% less in Sete Lagoas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sete Lagoas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sete Lagoas, where all-in costs run around $623, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Sete Lagoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sete Lagoas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sete Lagoas โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sete Lagoas. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared