Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
59
Cost of Living Index in Phuket
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and South Africa
For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in South Africa: $1,215 and $1,182 a month, rent and utilities included.
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-
😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 25.8% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 2.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 15.5% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 21.8% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97 MX$201
$10.64 R 176
3.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85 MX$823
$41.40 R 683
8.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 MX$219
$5.60 R 92.4
112.86%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$69.9
$2.28 R 37.63
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.08
$1.16 R 19.17
12.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MX$15.72
$0.92 R 15.22
-6.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$59.0
$2.45 R 40.40
31.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 MX$92.0
$2.95 R 48.69
69.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.77
$1.19 R 19.63
22.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 MX$42.72
$1.12 R 18.42
108.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.48
$1.79 R 29.58
-19.55%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$45.20
$2.48 R 40.88
-0.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 MX$141
$8.08 R 133
-4.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 MX$145
$5.13 R 84.7
53.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 MX$235
$7.81 R 129
63.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 MX$53.6
$1.87 R 30.78
56.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.11
$1.66 R 27.42
-14.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MX$47.10
$1.77 R 29.15
45.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.24
$1.80 R 29.67
18.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.75
$1.49 R 24.53
30.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MX$35.55
$1.50 R 24.71
29.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.13
$1.28 R 21.16
-10.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.42
$1.09 R 17.97
11.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MX$80.3
$3.22 R 53.2
36.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 MX$181
$4.93 R 81.3
99.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.23
$1.48 R 24.47
4.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 MX$49.86
$2.01 R 33.09
35.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.64
$1.60 R 26.39
-67.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.42 MX$503
$60.7 R 1,001
-54.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 MX$90.2
$1.09 R 17.98
350.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.52 MX$64.7
$0.98 R 16.23
259.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 MX$104
$7.42 R 122
-23.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$28.27
$1.49 R 24.63
3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$389.9K
$35.0K R 578.2K
-39.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$449.6K
$31.6K R 521.1K
-22.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 MX$1,535
$131 R 2,168
-36.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03 MX$441
$34.71 R 573
-30.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 MX$539
$39.94 R 659
-26.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 MX$1,191
$33.88 R 559
91.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46 MX$541
$11.39 R 188
158.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09 MX$93.4
$7.31 R 121
-30.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,813
$225 R 3,715
-7.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,045 MX$74.3K
$5,485 R 90.5K
-26.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55 MX$818
$52.0 R 858
-14.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 MX$772
$33.30 R 549
26.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 MX$1,387
$99.4 R 1,640
-24.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,678
$87.4 R 1,441
4.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 MX$18.1K
$480 R 7,918
105.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$7,072
$406 R 6,692
-5.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 MX$31.5K
$935 R 15.4K
83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 MX$20.4K
$796 R 13.1K
39.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,016 MX$73.7K
$1,111 R 18.3K
261.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,247 MX$114.7K
$777 R 12.8K
704.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.9K
$1,476 R 24.4K
-48.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
11.23
1.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for South Africa: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $385 31.4%
South Africa $406 33.6% 5.3% $20
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $260 21.2%
South Africa $196 16.2% 24.8% $65
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $204 16.6%
South Africa $156 12.9% 23.6% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $137 11.2%
South Africa $206 17.1% 50.4% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $114 9.3%
South Africa $122 10.1% 7.3% $8.3
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $75 6.1%
South Africa $49 4% 35.4% $27
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $52 4.2%
South Africa $73 6.1% 40.4% $21
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen $1.1K 36.5%
South Africa $796 31.3% 28.2% $312
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen $602 19.8%
South Africa $453 17.8% 24.8% $149
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen $631 20.8%
South Africa $525 20.6% 16.8% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen $161 5.3%
South Africa $241 9.5% 49.5% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen $254 8.3%
South Africa $272 10.7% 7.3% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen $180 5.9%
South Africa $108 4.3% 39.6% $71
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen $105 3.5%
South Africa $149 5.9% 42.1% $44
Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇿🇦 South Africa
Weather
Population
149,923
62,027,503
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Playa del Carmen South Africa 13,300 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
- Playa del Carmen
- South Africa
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,351
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,811
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
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