Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Shepstone and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Shepstone and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,022 per month in Port Shepstone vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Port Shepstone vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Port Shepstone vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Shepstone is about 22% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Port Shepstone and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Port Shepstone 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.84 R 127

$11.96 MX$203

-34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.65 R 625

$47.38 MX$805

-18.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.15 R 99.5

$11.75 MX$200

-47.66%

Cappuccino

$2.87 R 46.50

$4.12 MX$70.1

-30.34%

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

$1.12 R 18.20

$1.40 MX$23.78

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 R 14.22

$0.91 MX$15.50

-3.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 R 39.99

$3.21 MX$54.5

-23.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 R 42.13

$7.07 MX$120

-63.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 R 15.74

$1.68 MX$28.49

-42.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 R 10.89

$2.15 MX$36.53

-68.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 R 20.58

$1.77 MX$30.14

-28.25%

Eggs

$1.48 R 24.01

$2.82 MX$47.83

-47.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 R 123

$9.20 MX$156

-17.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 R 60.5

$9.23 MX$157

-59.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 R 115

$12.64 MX$215

-43.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 R 19.99

$2.95 MX$50.1

-57.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 R 12.48

$1.58 MX$26.83

-51.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 R 10.56

$2.22 MX$37.76

-70.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 R 24.49

$2.36 MX$40.15

-36.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 R 9.96

$1.99 MX$33.86

-68.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 R 23.13

$1.98 MX$33.63

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 R 15.65

$1.24 MX$21.07

-21.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 R 10.67

$1.21 MX$20.58

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 R 61.8

$4.60 MX$78.2

-16.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.05 R 81.7

$10.52 MX$179

-52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 R 24.62

$1.69 MX$28.74

-10.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 R 31.18

$2.77 MX$47.13

-30.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 R 21.87

$0.60 MX$10.24

125.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 R 7.36

$5.24 MX$89.0

-91.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 R 11.90

$3.65 MX$62.0

-79.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 R 130

$5.78 MX$98.3

38.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 R 22.06

$1.54 MX$26.13

-11.69%

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

$37.4K R 604.8K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

63.95%

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

$32.3K R 522.7K

$25.8K MX$438.5K

25.18%

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

$125 R 2,020

$90.7 MX$1,540

37.72%

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

$18.92 R 306

$25.19 MX$428

-24.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.98 R 598

$31.75 MX$539

16.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.80 R 547

$68.8 MX$1,169

-50.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 R 113

$4.86 MX$82.6

43.21%

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

$335 R 5,423

$226 MX$3,834

48.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,918 R 128.1K

$4,194 MX$71.2K

88.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 R 900

$47.38 MX$805

17.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.89 R 500

$43.45 MX$738

-28.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 R 1,600

$80.2 MX$1,363

23.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 R 1,460

$91.4 MX$1,552

-1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 R 6,244

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-64.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 R 5,593

$409 MX$6,943

-15.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 R 14.5K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-54.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 R 12.3K

$1,281 MX$21.8K

-40.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$784 R 12.7K

$4,046 MX$68.7K

-80.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 R 10.6K

$6,704 MX$113.9K

-90.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,172 R 51.3K

$773 MX$13.1K

310.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.81

11.45

3.14%

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

Last update for Port Shepstone: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Port Shepstone versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. 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 310% higher in Port Shepstone, 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 $39.00 in Port Shepstone versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $278 – making Port Shepstone 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

Port Shepstone vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,533 per month in Port Shepstone and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Shepstone, 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 $1,022 in Port Shepstone and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $335 per month in Port Shepstone and $226 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Port Shepstone, where all-in costs run around $1,022, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Port Shepstone it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Shepstone – 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 Port Shepstone. 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.