Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $861 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,433 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,005 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 49% more than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Spanish Town 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

$7.35 JMD 1,158

62.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

$62.3 JMD 9,809

-31.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

$8.78 JMD 1,383

20.62%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

$4.47 JMD 704

-19.02%

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

$1.47 MX$25.54

$1.30 JMD 205

13.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

$0.75 JMD 118

25.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

$2.57 JMD 406

20.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

$3.11 JMD 490

43.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

$1.85 JMD 291

-22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

$2.67 JMD 421

-29.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

$0.45 JMD 71.1

262.22%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.99

$3.22 JMD 507

-18.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

$3.19 JMD 503

157.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

$1.99 JMD 314

316.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

$2.79 JMD 439

297.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

$2.24 JMD 353

18.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.11

$1.87 JMD 294

-19.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

$1.53 JMD 242

30.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

$1.94 JMD 305

7.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

$2.12 JMD 333

-15.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

$1.99 JMD 314

9.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

$3.02 JMD 476

-64.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

$0.91 JMD 144

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

$8.91 JMD 1,404

-55.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

$11.36 JMD 1,789

-10.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

$1.54 JMD 242

12.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

$2.47 JMD 388

1.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$1.11 JMD 175

182.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

$3.27 JMD 514

-26.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

$6.28 JMD 988

-50.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

$1.28 JMD 202

-0.78%

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

-27.63%

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-31.34%

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

$161 JMD 25.3K

-49.04%

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

$22.45 MX$391

$22.23 JMD 3,501

0.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

$50.1 JMD 7,882

-40.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

$13.11 JMD 2,064

-62.09%

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

$198 MX$3,442

$225 JMD 35.4K

-11.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

$2,457 JMD 386.9K

114.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

$25.73 JMD 4,052

41.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

$25.06 JMD 3,947

59.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

13.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.8K

$156 JMD 24.5K

518.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

$128 JMD 20.1K

264.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.8K

$638 JMD 100.5K

150.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.0K

$373 JMD 58.8K

223.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

$1,166 JMD 183.7K

-38.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

9.15

24.81%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $156 in Spanish Town. 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 62% higher in Spanish Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $62.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $195 in Spanish Town – so Spanish Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,292 in Spanish Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spanish Town, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $861 in Spanish Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $225 in Spanish Town. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Spanish Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Spanish Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Spanish Town. 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.