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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,784 in Southampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,320 in Southampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $12.9K in Southampton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 66% cheaper than Southampton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Southampton is 174% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$202

$54.6 BMD 54.6

-78.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$801

$151 BMD 151

-68.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$17.12 BMD 17.12

-31.37%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$69.7

$6.22 BMD 6.22

-33.76%

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

$1.40 MX$23.66

$3.03 BMD 3.03

-53.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.43

$3.03 BMD 3.03

-69.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.2

$7.54 BMD 7.54

-57.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$8.98 BMD 8.98

-21.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.35

$4.60 BMD 4.60

-63.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.36

$8.26 BMD 8.26

-73.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.00

$5.60 BMD 5.60

-68.39%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.60

$7.41 BMD 7.41

-61.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$18.57 BMD 18.57

-50.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$156

$23.17 BMD 23.17

-60.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$27.70 BMD 27.70

-54.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$49.90

$12.72 BMD 12.72

-76.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.70

$6.45 BMD 6.45

-75.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.58

$7.15 BMD 7.15

-68.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$39.96

$3.90 BMD 3.90

-39.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.70

$7.19 BMD 7.19

-72.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.47

$3.08 BMD 3.08

-35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$20.97

$6.83 BMD 6.83

-81.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.48

$3.53 BMD 3.53

-65.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$77.8

$17.56 BMD 17.56

-73.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$25.29 BMD 25.29

-58.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.60

$5.08 BMD 5.08

-66.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$46.91

$4.52 BMD 4.52

-38.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.5

$6.59 BMD 6.59

-20.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.7

$2.93 BMD 2.93

24.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.8

$71.1 BMD 71.1

-91.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.01

$2.13 BMD 2.13

-27.70%

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

$22.8K MX$385.5K

$36.8K BMD 36.8K

-38.09%

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

$25.8K MX$436.5K

$42.7K BMD 42.7K

-39.49%

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

$90.7 MX$1,533

$254 BMD 254

-64.25%

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

$25.19 MX$426

$148 BMD 148

-82.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$537

$159 BMD 159

-80.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$497

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.2

$13.57 BMD 13.57

-64.19%

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

$226 MX$3,816

$1,339 BMD 1,339

-83.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$70.9K

$25.1K BMD 25.1K

-83.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$801

$91.6 BMD 91.6

-48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$735

$69.9 BMD 69.9

-37.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,356

$145 BMD 145

-44.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,545

$127 BMD 127

-27.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,910

$1,516 BMD 1,516

-73.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$8,132 BMD 8,132

-84.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$9,739 BMD 9,739

-92.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

8.63

32.68%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Southampton: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1159% higher in Southampton, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $151 in Southampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $768 – 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 Southampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Southampton is pricier by about 190%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,677 in Southampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $3,784 in Southampton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,339 in Southampton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Southampton at $3,784. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Southampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.