😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $784 in St Anne, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,865 in St Anne, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,947 in St Anne, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 64% more than St Anne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and St Anne are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, St Anne41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$34.26GGP 25.36
-65.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$99.5GGP 73.7
-57.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$11.03GGP 8.17
-3.99%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$4.16GGP 3.08
-12.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$2.36GGP 1.75
-37.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$1.37GGP 1.02
-31.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$4.98GGP 3.68
-37.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$6.28GGP 4.65
-28.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$2.06GGP 1.52
-30.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$2.66GGP 1.97
-29.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
-
-
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$16.19GGP 11.98
-37.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$8.37GGP 6.20
-62.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$2.77GGP 2.05
-54.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$200GGP 148
-59.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$55.3GGP 40.90
-46.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$13.75GGP 10.18
277.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$13.58GGP 10.05
37.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$13.69GGP 10.13
-63.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$1,069GGP 791
13.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$2,455GGP 1,816
60.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$2,443GGP 1,808
163.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
St Anne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$2,029GGP 1,502
-64.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
-
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 St Anne: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $0 in St Anne. 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 182% higher in St Anne, 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $100 in St Anne. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $80 in St Anne – so St Anne 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 St Anne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Anne cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,175 in St Anne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and St Anne?
Groceries cost about 215% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or St Anne?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $100 in St Anne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or St Anne?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in St Anne, where all-in costs run around $784, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In St Anne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or St Anne more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward St Anne – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or St Anne?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with St Anne. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared