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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,686 in Southampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,489 in Southampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $13.3K in Southampton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 65% cheaper than Southampton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Southampton is 175% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$59.1 BMD 59.1

-80.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$177 BMD 177

-76.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$14.88 BMD 14.88

-28.49%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.47 BMD 6.47

-45.60%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$3.33 BMD 3.33

-54.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$2.94 BMD 2.94

-67.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$9.90 BMD 9.90

-70.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$8.40 BMD 8.40

-47.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$4.34 BMD 4.34

-68.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$8.63 BMD 8.63

-78.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-69.80%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.65 BMD 7.65

-67.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$11.48 BMD 11.48

-27.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$24.02 BMD 24.02

-65.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$32.59 BMD 32.59

-67.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$10.18 BMD 10.18

-74.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$6.43 BMD 6.43

-77.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$12.66 BMD 12.66

-84.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$11.41 BMD 11.41

-81.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$8.31 BMD 8.31

-78.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$5.16 BMD 5.16

-57.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$6.15 BMD 6.15

-83.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$3.21 BMD 3.21

-66.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$17.76 BMD 17.76

-77.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$25.42 BMD 25.42

-59.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-68.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$4.39 BMD 4.39

-41.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$6.40 BMD 6.40

-49.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$53.8 BMD 53.8

-93.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.01 BMD 2.01

-34.83%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

-11.73%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

-39.04%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$232 BMD 232

-64.29%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$120 BMD 120

-81.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$157 BMD 157

-81.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$13.51 BMD 13.51

-62.47%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$1,342 BMD 1,342

-85.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

-78.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$78.5 BMD 78.5

-52.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$60.8 BMD 60.8

-34.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$139 BMD 139

-43.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$126 BMD 126

-31.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$1,518 BMD 1,518

-69.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$7,968 BMD 7,968

-84.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$9,756 BMD 9,756

-93.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.22

58.17%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Southampton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1369% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $177 in Southampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $817 – 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 184%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,530 in Southampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $3,686 in Southampton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,342 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 $1,297, than in Southampton at $3,686. 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.