Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sete Lagoas Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sete Lagoas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $624 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $983 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,342 in Sete Lagoas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 102% more than Sete Lagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sete Lagoas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Sete Lagoas 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$6.28 R$32.16
86.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$20.55 R$105
103.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$5.08 R$25.97
106.89%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$0.56 R$2.88
541.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$0.86 R$4.41
75.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$0.52 R$2.68
76.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$1.37 R$7.03
116.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$1.74 R$8.91
153.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$0.85 R$4.35
64.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$0.65 R$3.31
189.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$1.54 R$7.86
1.30%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$1.62 R$8.30
61.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$5.54 R$28.37
50.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$2.72 R$13.92
206.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$7.03 R$35.98
54.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$0.87 R$4.48
211.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$1.06 R$5.43
42.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$0.52 R$2.64
259.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$0.88 R$4.49
148.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$1.02 R$5.22
82.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$0.53 R$2.69
320.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$0.49 R$2.52
118.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$0.52 R$2.66
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$2.17 R$11.11
93.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$5.73 R$29.30
82.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$0.55 R$2.82
201.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$0.88 R$4.48
196.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$0.93 R$4.75
-41.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$38.60 R$198
-32.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$0.34 R$1.75
805.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$0.27 R$1.38
788.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$8.21 R$42.01
-61.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$0.94 R$4.79
39.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$12.4K R$63.6K
139.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$21.6K R$110.6K
7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$44.55 R$228
82.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$14.50 R$74.2
55.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$17.54 R$89.8
71.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$22.30 R$114
137.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
$21.64 R$111
-15.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$3.58 R$18.31
37.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$109 R$556
84.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$6,829 R$34.9K
-24.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$8.98 R$45.94
300.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$9.15 R$46.85
338.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$36.10 R$185
120.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$36.10 R$185
139.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$309 R$1,581
216.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$219 R$1,123
114.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$575 R$2,944
187.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$433 R$2,214
178.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$1,657 R$8,481
138.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$1,162 R$5,947
468.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sete Lagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
$426 R$2,178
58.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10.83
5.45%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sete Lagoas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $309 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.

Salaries run about 59% 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 $21.00 in Sete Lagoas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $124 – 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 – 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $937 in Sete Lagoas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 and in Sete Lagoas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $624 in Sete Lagoas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Sete Lagoas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Sete Lagoas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sete Lagoas, where all-in costs run around $624, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 – 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.

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