๐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,933 in Sรจte, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,958 in Sรจte, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,982 in Sรจte, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 34% cheaper than Sรจte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Sรจte is 44% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$207
$17.27โฌ14.97
-31.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$749
$57.1โฌ49.44
-24.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$186
$13.20โฌ11.44
-19.32%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$60.2
$3.46โฌ3.00
-0.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$26.24
$2.77โฌ2.40
-45.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.56
$1.86โฌ1.61
-48.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.8
$7.13โฌ6.18
-57.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$80.4
$7.06โฌ6.12
-34.70%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.01
$1.42โฌ1.23
-2.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.63โฌ1.41
13.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$28.11
$2.87โฌ2.48
-43.90%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.26
$4.03โฌ3.50
-35.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$144
$24.20โฌ20.97
-65.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$146
$12.18โฌ10.56
-31.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$186
$25.84โฌ22.40
-58.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.89
$3.20โฌ2.77
-17.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.96
$2.17โฌ1.88
-31.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.50
$3.45โฌ2.99
-44.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.41
$3.54โฌ3.07
-40.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.42
$2.33โฌ2.02
-20.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.47
$2.24โฌ1.94
0.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.54
$1.65โฌ1.43
-35.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.98
$0.82โฌ0.71
32.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.4
$14.01โฌ12.14
-70.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$181
$9.94โฌ8.61
4.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$30.09
$3.50โฌ3.03
-50.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.60
$3.52โฌ3.05
-25.85%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.46
$1.87โฌ1.62
-71.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$470
$49.19โฌ42.63
-45.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.6
$5.27โฌ4.56
-40.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.82
$1.96โฌ1.70
28.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$55.0
$33.95โฌ29.42
-90.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.25
$2.11โฌ1.83
-39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$530.1K
$37.9Kโฌ32.8K
-19.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.3K
$38.4Kโฌ33.2K
-38.57%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,449
$282โฌ245
-70.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$396
$27.07โฌ23.46
-16.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$514
$34.95โฌ30.29
-15.71%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$890
$37.01โฌ32.08
37.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$320
$18.24โฌ15.81
0.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.0
$13.66โฌ11.84
-63.91%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,444
$405โฌ351
-51.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$92.1K
$8,199โฌ7,106
-35.60%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$644
$86.1โฌ74.6
-57.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$696
$45.30โฌ39.26
-11.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,396
$88.4โฌ76.6
-9.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,561
$159โฌ138
-43.74%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.7K
$773โฌ670
23.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,327
$606โฌ526
-21.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.7K
$1,377โฌ1,193
19.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.4K
$1,070โฌ927
14.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$68.4K
$4,084โฌ3,539
-4.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$112.7K
$3,124โฌ2,707
106.78%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sรจte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.6K
$2,311โฌ2,003
-71.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.64
213.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Sรจte: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $773 in Sรจte. 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 246% higher in Sรจte, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $57.0 in Sรจte. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $402 โ making Playa del Carmen 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 Sรจte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sรจte cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Sรจte is pricier by about 52%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,900 in Sรจte. 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Sรจte?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,933 in Sรจte. 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 83% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Sรจte?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Sรจte at $1,933. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sรจte it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sรจte more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Sรจte?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sรจte makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared