Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and St Anne Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and St Anne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $804 in St Anne, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,880 in St Anne, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,957 in St Anne, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 58% 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 Carmen 5% lower, St Anne 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$34.38 GGP 25.64

-65.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$99.3 GGP 74.1

-56.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$10.90 GGP 8.13

-2.29%

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$4.12 GGP 3.08

-16.26%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

$2.37 GGP 1.77

-36.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$1.39 GGP 1.04

-31.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

$5.22 GGP 3.89

-41.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

$6.29 GGP 4.69

-26.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.99 GGP 1.49

-30.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$2.69 GGP 2.00

-31.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

$15.72 GGP 11.73

-33.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

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

$8.02 GGP 5.98

-60.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$2.80 GGP 2.09

-54.64%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

$201 GGP 150

-58.72%

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$56.6 GGP 42.25

-47.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$13.69 GGP 10.22

272.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$13.43 GGP 10.02

36.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$13.57 GGP 10.12

-63.67%

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$1,102 GGP 822

11.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$2,430 GGP 1,813

61.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

$2,388 GGP 1,782

170.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$1,978 GGP 1,476

-66.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 St Anne: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 197% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $99.0 in St Anne. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $78.0 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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,205 in St Anne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 219% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $99.0 in St Anne. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in St Anne, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In St Anne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.