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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $838 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,404 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,970 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 52% 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 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$7.30 JMD 1,149

62.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$61.6 JMD 9,679

-30.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$8.52 JMD 1,340

25.00%

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$4.44 JMD 699

-22.30%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.33 JMD 208

12.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$0.76 JMD 120

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

$2.57 JMD 404

17.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

$3.18 JMD 500

44.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.90 JMD 299

-27.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$2.58 JMD 405

-28.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$0.42 JMD 66.3

283.33%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$3.22 JMD 507

-19.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$3.14 JMD 494

163.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$1.98 JMD 311

322.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$2.80 JMD 440

280.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$2.21 JMD 347

19.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$1.85 JMD 291

-19.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$1.60 JMD 252

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$1.83 JMD 287

14.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$2.11 JMD 332

-11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$1.93 JMD 304

17.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$2.97 JMD 468

-64.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.92 JMD 144

18.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

$8.76 JMD 1,377

-52.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

$11.40 JMD 1,793

-8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

$1.55 JMD 243

10.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

$2.47 JMD 389

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$1.13 JMD 178

176.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$3.24 JMD 509

-22.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$6.33 JMD 995

-50.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$1.28 JMD 201

-0.78%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

-28.10%

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-30.79%

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

$162 JMD 25.5K

-48.75%

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

$22.71 MX$390

$21.92 JMD 3,448

3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$50.8 JMD 7,982

-41.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$13.21 JMD 2,078

-62.68%

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

$197 MX$3,386

$226 JMD 35.6K

-12.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

$2,483 JMD 390.4K

112.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$26.33 JMD 4,141

40.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$25.43 JMD 4,000

56.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

10.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$156 JMD 24.5K

514.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$123 JMD 19.4K

286.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$616 JMD 97.0K

166.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$376 JMD 59.1K

225.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$1,160 JMD 182.5K

-42.52%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 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 74% 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 – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $193 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 52%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,257 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $838 in Spanish Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $226 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 $838, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.