Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint George, UT and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,435 in Saint George, UT, rent and utilities included – about $14,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint George, UT, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Saint George, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,435
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint George, UT and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saint George, UT and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,435 per month in Saint George, UT vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Saint George, UT $2,435
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,277 per month in Saint George, UT vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Saint George, UT $3,277
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,120 per month in Saint George, UT vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Saint George, UT $4,120
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Saint George, UT costs about 102% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Saint George, UT sits 79% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.31 $13.31
$10.92 MX$205
21.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2 $69.2
$43.37 MX$815
59.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$11.78 MX$221
-16.55%
Cappuccino
$4.69 $4.69
$3.81 MX$71.6
23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.28 MX$24.10
113.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.78 MX$14.71
201.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.33 $7.33
$3.17 MX$59.5
131.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.22 $8.22
$4.93 MX$92.7
66.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.41 MX$26.43
-34.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.22 MX$41.66
34.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$1.42 MX$26.64
222.54%
Eggs
$4.46 $4.46
$2.52 MX$47.41
76.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.15 $13.15
$7.26 MX$137
81.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 $8.93
$7.70 MX$145
15.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 $11.67
$12.69 MX$239
-8.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.78 MX$52.3
59.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.37 MX$25.71
5.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.55 MX$47.94
45.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.12 MX$39.90
55.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.94 MX$36.43
-3.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.89 MX$35.44
22.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.15 MX$21.55
66.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.18 MX$22.16
84.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$4.30 MX$80.7
128.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.03 $11.03
$9.95 MX$187
10.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.58 MX$29.76
10.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.67 MX$50.2
8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$10.40
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.62 MX$500
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.97 MX$93.4
-25.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.33 MX$62.6
-18.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.36 $34.36
$5.36 MX$101
541.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.44 MX$27.14
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K $37.7K
$20.7K MX$388.4K
82.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$23.5K MX$441.0K
18.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 $131
$84.8 MX$1,594
54.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$76.0 $76.0
$23.41 MX$440
224.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3 $71.3
$28.66 MX$539
148.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.51 $29.51
$57.1 MX$1,072
-48.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.91 MX$543
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.13 $13.13
$5.14 MX$96.6
155.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$597 $597
$207 MX$3,882
189.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K $25.4K
$3,927 MX$73.8K
546.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.51 $45.51
$43.35 MX$815
4.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.18 $36.18
$41.44 MX$779
-12.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.9 $82.9
$74.2 MX$1,394
11.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 $95.2
$89.3 MX$1,677
6.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 $1,548
$980 MX$18.4K
58.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 $1,365
$381 MX$7,157
258.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,083 $2,083
$1,708 MX$32.1K
21.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,721 $1,721
$1,075 MX$20.2K
60.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,106 $3,106
$3,943 MX$74.1K
-21.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$6,158 MX$115.7K
-48.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint George, UT
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,065 $4,065
$735 MX$13.8K
453.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
11.45
-42.88%

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

Last update for Saint George, UT: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint George, UT
$1.4K
Playa del Carmen
$381 72.1% $984
Groceries & Markets
Saint George, UT
$337
Playa del Carmen
$255 24.4% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George, UT
$278
Playa del Carmen
$137 50.8% $141
Eating Out
Saint George, UT
$266
Playa del Carmen
$202 23.8% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Saint George, UT
$117
Playa del Carmen
$112 4.4% $5.2
Sport & Entertainment
Saint George, UT
$56
Playa del Carmen
$67 20.7% $12
Getting Around
Saint George, UT
$17 *
Playa del Carmen
$50 193% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,548 in Saint George, UT versus $980 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 in Saint George, UT are about 5.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Saint George, UT versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Saint George, UT
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
06:54 6:54 AM
08:54 8:54 AM
2 h ahead of Saint George, UT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
95,342
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint George, UT Playa del Carmen 3,150 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint George, UT
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 George, UT vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Saint George, UT?
Yes – Saint George, UT is pricier by about 102%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,653 per month in Saint George, UT and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,548 in Saint George, UT.
What are total monthly expenses in Saint George, UT and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,435 in Saint George, UT and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 51% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $597 per month in Saint George, UT and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Saint George, UT or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Saint George, UT at $2,435. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George, UT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint George, UT or Playa del Carmen 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint George, UT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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