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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $319 in St John, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $931 in St John, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,542 in St John, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 296% more than St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and St John are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, St John 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$199

$19.87 $19.87

-41.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$809

$177 $177

-73.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$204

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.2

$6.91 $6.91

-42.40%

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

$1.43 MX$24.49

$2.94 $2.94

-51.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.16

$1.95 $1.95

-57.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$54.7

$7.99 $7.99

-60.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$8.02 $8.02

-15.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.76

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.71

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.32

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$164

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$220

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.58

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.70

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.79

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.00

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.18

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.54

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$494

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.37

$1.54 $1.54

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

$22.5K MX$387.0K

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

$26.1K MX$447.3K

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

$91.4 MX$1,569

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

$25.20 MX$433

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$536

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,154

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$500

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.5

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

$224 MX$3,839

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.6K

$13.3K $13.3K

-68.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$808

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$760

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,591

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,698

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.7K

$12.9K $12.9K

-69.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$111.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.0K

$5,032 $5,032

-84.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

7.05

62.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for St John: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 564% higher in St John, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $177 in St John. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 296%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $479 in St John. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $319 in St John. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $177 in St John. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in St John, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In St John 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 John – 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 John. 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.