Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Andrew Parish and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Andrew Parish and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,112 per month in Saint Andrew Parish vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Saint Andrew Parish vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,604 per month in Saint Andrew Parish vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint Andrew Parish is about 12% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Saint Andrew Parish and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Saint Andrew Parish 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.40 JMD 1,171

$11.61 MX$201

-36.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.06 JMD 5,391

$42.75 MX$740

-20.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 JMD 964

$10.60 MX$184

-42.55%

Cappuccino

$1.90 JMD 301

$3.59 MX$62.2

-47.08%

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

$0.91 JMD 143

$1.45 MX$25.15

-37.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 113

$0.90 MX$15.55

-21.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 392

$3.03 MX$52.5

-18.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 483

$4.56 MX$79.0

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 668

$1.45 MX$25.14

191.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 JMD 161

$1.83 MX$31.64

-44.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 JMD 200

$1.61 MX$27.85

-21.12%

Eggs

$3.48 JMD 550

$2.54 MX$43.95

37.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 JMD 1,723

$8.54 MX$148

27.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,018

$8.47 MX$147

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 JMD 1,190

$10.86 MX$188

-30.76%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 JMD 967

$2.73 MX$47.26

123.81%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 493

$1.49 MX$25.85

109.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 JMD 672

$1.94 MX$33.65

118.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 JMD 474

$2.16 MX$37.49

38.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 321

$1.85 MX$31.97

9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 304

$2.19 MX$37.91

-12.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 491

$1.07 MX$18.58

189.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 JMD 226

$1.08 MX$18.76

32.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 JMD 1,355

$4.06 MX$70.3

110.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 JMD 1,830

$10.46 MX$181

10.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 441

$1.65 MX$28.64

68.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 488

$2.55 MX$44.13

21.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.20 MX$454

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

$3.14 MX$54.4

-64.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 500

$2.37 MX$41.08

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 JMD 965

$3.24 MX$56.1

87.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 JMD 197

$1.31 MX$22.76

-4.58%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

$30.5K MX$528.9K

42.05%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$23.8K MX$412.6K

41.48%

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

$162 JMD 25.7K

$83.1 MX$1,440

94.96%

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

$22.01 JMD 3,483

$22.15 MX$384

-0.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 JMD 8,189

$29.37 MX$509

76.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MX$887

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$13.22 JMD 2,092

$4.89 MX$84.7

170.35%

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

$229 JMD 36.2K

$199 MX$3,441

15.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,526 JMD 399.8K

$5,207 MX$90.2K

-51.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 JMD 4,174

$35.93 MX$622

-26.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 JMD 4,067

$39.39 MX$682

-34.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

$80.3 MX$1,391

-12.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$87.6 MX$1,517

-13.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 JMD 119.0K

$963 MX$16.7K

-21.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 JMD 49.1K

$482 MX$8,350

-35.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 JMD 301.3K

$1,645 MX$28.5K

15.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$907 JMD 143.6K

$1,192 MX$20.6K

-23.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 MX$68.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,513 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 JMD 117.5K

$726 MX$12.6K

2.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

11.42

-19.88%

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

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $963 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 2% higher in Saint Andrew Parish, 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 $34 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $323 in Saint Andrew Parish vs $253 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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

Saint Andrew Parish vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,667 per month in Saint Andrew Parish and $1,894 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 Saint Andrew Parish, 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 $1,112 in Saint Andrew Parish and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $229 per month in Saint Andrew Parish and $199 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint Andrew Parish, where all-in costs run around $1,112, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,262. In Saint Andrew Parish it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saint Andrew Parish – 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 Saint Andrew Parish. 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.