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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,857 in St Brelade, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,745 in St Brelade, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,634 in St Brelade, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 67% cheaper than St Brelade, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while St Brelade is 188% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$38.06 JEP 28.20
-68.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$133 JEP 98.8
-67.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$11.00 JEP 8.15
-3.73%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$5.11 JEP 3.78
-29.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$3.22 JEP 2.39
-54.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$2.66 JEP 1.97
-64.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$7.98 JEP 5.91
-61.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$8.00 JEP 5.93
-44.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.15 JEP 1.60
-33.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$2.31 JEP 1.71
-18.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$3.57 JEP 2.64
-54.34%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$5.80 JEP 4.30
-54.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$9.58 JEP 7.10
-14.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$11.68 JEP 8.65
-29.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$18.93 JEP 14.03
-41.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$4.33 JEP 3.21
-38.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$3.19 JEP 2.36
-52.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$4.26 JEP 3.16
-53.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$4.16 JEP 3.08
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$3.90 JEP 2.89
-54.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$3.83 JEP 2.84
-43.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.98 JEP 1.46
-45.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$2.39 JEP 1.77
-56.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$15.70 JEP 11.64
-74.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$10.89 JEP 8.07
-6.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$4.44 JEP 3.29
-61.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$7.34 JEP 5.44
-65.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$3.58 JEP 2.66
-85.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$72.3 JEP 53.6
-62.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$5.39 JEP 3.99
-41.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$3.85 JEP 2.85
-37.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$34.05 JEP 25.23
-90.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$2.14 JEP 1.59
-40.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$22.8K JEP 16.9K
35.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$33.8K JEP 25.0K
-31.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$248 JEP 184
-66.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$25.32 JEP 18.76
-11.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$76.4 JEP 56.6
-61.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$122 JEP 90.1
-57.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$16.35 JEP 12.11
-69.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$2,205 JEP 1,634
-91.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$9,156 JEP 6,785
-42.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$110 JEP 81.3
-66.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$74.1 JEP 54.9
-45.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$128 JEP 95.2
-37.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$217 JEP 161
-59.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$1,862 JEP 1,380
-48.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$2,040 JEP 1,512
-77.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$3,247 JEP 2,406
-50.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$3,508 JEP 2,599
-65.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
St Brelade
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$2,387 JEP 1,769
-69.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.85
196.62%

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 Brelade: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,862 in St Brelade. 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 231% higher in St Brelade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $133 in St Brelade. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $419 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Brelade: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Brelade cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – St Brelade is pricier by about 200%, 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 $5,785 in St Brelade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs St Brelade?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $3,857 in St Brelade. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 168% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or St Brelade?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in St Brelade at $3,857. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in St Brelade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or St Brelade more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Brelade?
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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St Brelade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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