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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,434 per month in Saint George, UT vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,427 per month in Saint George, UT vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,420 per month in Saint George, UT vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint George, UT costs about 93% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint George, UT sits 83% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.88 $12.88

$11.72 MX$204

9.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 $70.5

$41.89 MX$731

68.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$10.51 MX$183

-4.66%

Cappuccino

$5.80 $5.80

$3.59 MX$62.5

61.56%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$1.51 MX$26.31

33.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.92 MX$15.96

79.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.96 MX$51.6

102.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$4.41 MX$76.9

76.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.40 MX$24.35

-47.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.88 MX$32.87

46.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$1.56 MX$27.19

212.82%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$2.61 MX$45.50

60.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$8.32 MX$145

45.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.99 $9.99

$8.35 MX$146

19.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$10.86 MX$189

21.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.71 MX$47.31

51.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.51 MX$26.25

8.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.87 MX$32.67

80.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.19 MX$38.19

24.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.86 MX$32.40

15.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.23 MX$38.90

10.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.07 MX$18.63

52.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.09 MX$18.94

91.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$4.19 MX$73.0

116.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$10.43 MX$182

16.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.66 MX$28.91

5.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.61 MX$45.56

-18.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.54 MX$9.45

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.08 MX$53.7

11.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.40 MX$41.94

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.53 $32.53

$3.13 MX$54.5

939.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.31 MX$22.87

-24.43%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

2.58%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

10.28%

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

$146 $146

$81.3 MX$1,418

79.96%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$22.56 MX$393

161.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$30.05 MX$524

117.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.81 $34.81

$52.9 MX$923

-34.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 $11.66

$4.92 MX$85.8

136.99%

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

$1,181 $1,181

$201 MX$3,502

488.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K $13.2K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

155.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.87 $44.87

$35.92 MX$627

24.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.09 $41.09

$40.13 MX$700

2.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 $83.7

$79.7 MX$1,390

5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.9 $92.9

$86.5 MX$1,508

7.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$978 MX$17.1K

49.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$470 MX$8,206

193.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,211 $2,211

$1,651 MX$28.8K

33.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,203 MX$21.0K

59.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,142 $3,142

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-20.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,148 $3,148

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-52.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,985 $3,985

$677 MX$11.8K

489.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.31

11.42

-44.75%

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

Last update for Saint George, UT: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,462 in Saint George, UT versus $978 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 489% higher in Saint George, UT, 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 $71.0 in Saint George, UT versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $252 – 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

Saint George, UT vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint George, UT is pricier by about 93%, 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 $3,651 per month in Saint George, UT and $1,890 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $2,434 in Saint George, UT and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,181 per month in Saint George, UT and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Saint George, UT at $2,434. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George, UT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint George, UT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.