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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $859 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,446 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,032 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 47% 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 5% lower, Spanish Town 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$204

$7.69 JMD 1,210

52.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$731

$62.6 JMD 9,846

-33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$183

$8.56 JMD 1,347

22.78%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.5

$4.40 JMD 692

-18.41%

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

$1.51 MX$26.31

$1.31 JMD 206

15.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.96

$0.70 JMD 110

31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.6

$2.43 JMD 382

21.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.9

$3.11 JMD 488

41.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.35

$1.92 JMD 301

-27.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.87

$2.57 JMD 404

-26.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$27.19

$0.43 JMD 67.2

262.79%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.50

$3.04 JMD 479

-14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$145

$3.10 JMD 487

168.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$146

$1.91 JMD 300

337.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$189

$2.74 JMD 431

296.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$47.31

$2.18 JMD 343

24.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.25

$1.89 JMD 298

-20.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.67

$1.53 JMD 241

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$38.19

$1.83 JMD 288

19.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.40

$2.12 JMD 333

-12.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.90

$1.94 JMD 305

14.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.63

$2.99 JMD 471

-64.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.94

$0.90 JMD 142

21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$73.0

$8.65 JMD 1,361

-51.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$182

$11.61 JMD 1,825

-10.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.91

$1.55 JMD 244

7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.56

$2.48 JMD 389

5.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.7

$1.08 JMD 169

185.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.94

$3.15 JMD 495

-23.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.5

$6.35 JMD 999

-50.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.87

$1.22 JMD 193

7.38%

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

$29.8K MX$519.9K

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-30.69%

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

$23.3K MX$406.8K

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

-29.12%

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

$81.3 MX$1,418

$166 JMD 26.2K

-51.18%

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

$22.56 MX$393

$22.08 JMD 3,473

2.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$524

$51.1 JMD 8,033

-41.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.8

$12.93 JMD 2,034

-61.95%

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

$201 MX$3,502

$230 JMD 36.2K

-12.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$90.2K

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

105.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$627

$26.46 JMD 4,161

35.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$700

$25.26 JMD 3,973

58.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,390

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

11.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,508

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

12.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$17.1K

$159 JMD 25.0K

514.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,206

$123 JMD 19.3K

282.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.8K

$633 JMD 99.6K

160.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$21.0K

$380 JMD 59.8K

216.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.8K

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

-42.78%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 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 75% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $63.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $192 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 47%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,289 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $859 in Spanish Town. 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 $230 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 $859, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.