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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,385 per month in Saint George vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,584 per month in Saint George vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,782 per month in Saint George vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint George costs about 249% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint George sits 228% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.4 BMD 60.4

$11.99 MX$209

403.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$181 BMD 181

$41.78 MX$728

332.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.25 BMD 15.25

$10.75 MX$187

41.86%

Cappuccino

$6.41 BMD 6.41

$3.50 MX$60.9

83.14%

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

$3.48 BMD 3.48

$1.45 MX$25.22

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BMD 2.96

$0.88 MX$15.41

236.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.95 BMD 9.95

$2.95 MX$51.3

237.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.64 BMD 8.64

$4.51 MX$78.6

91.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 BMD 4.32

$1.43 MX$24.94

202.10%

White Bread (500g)

$8.95 BMD 8.95

$1.84 MX$31.99

386.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 BMD 3.97

$1.57 MX$27.31

152.87%

Eggs

$7.35 BMD 7.35

$2.51 MX$43.74

192.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BMD 7.71

$8.28 MX$144

-6.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.26 BMD 24.26

$8.43 MX$147

187.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.65 BMD 25.65

$10.68 MX$186

140.17%

Apples (1kg)

$10.19 BMD 10.19

$2.61 MX$45.43

290.42%

Banana (1kg)

$6.41 BMD 6.41

$1.44 MX$25.04

345.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.94 BMD 8.94

$1.96 MX$34.16

356.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.45 BMD 9.45

$2.09 MX$36.47

352.15%

Potato (1kg)

$8.47 BMD 8.47

$1.85 MX$32.24

357.84%

Onion (1kg)

$5.22 BMD 5.22

$2.17 MX$37.74

140.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.10 BMD 6.10

$1.03 MX$17.96

492.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 BMD 3.28

$1.07 MX$18.70

206.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.81 BMD 17.81

$4.10 MX$71.4

334.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.83 BMD 24.83

$10.17 MX$177

144.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.30 BMD 5.30

$1.68 MX$29.17

215.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 BMD 4.38

$2.53 MX$43.98

73.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 BMD 6.39

$3.23 MX$56.3

97.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.6 BMD 53.6

$3.23 MX$56.2

1559.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.37 BMD 2.37

$1.32 MX$23.00

79.55%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

17.74%

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

$39.4K BMD 39.4K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

66.66%

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

$239 BMD 239

$82.0 MX$1,428

190.83%

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

$119 BMD 119

$22.95 MX$400

418.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$156 BMD 156

$30.11 MX$524

419.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.9 BMD 98.9

$52.0 MX$905

90.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.7 BMD 75.7

$18.53 MX$323

308.42%

Cinema Ticket

$13.74 BMD 13.74

$4.98 MX$86.6

175.90%

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

$1,313 BMD 1,313

$197 MX$3,438

565.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K BMD 24.9K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

367.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.41 BMD 29.41

$35.60 MX$620

-17.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.6 BMD 59.6

$40.33 MX$702

47.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 BMD 139

$78.8 MX$1,371

76.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$88.9 MX$1,549

43.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 BMD 2,508

$947 MX$16.5K

164.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 BMD 2,183

$474 MX$8,254

360.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,688 BMD 3,688

$1,644 MX$28.6K

124.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,417 BMD 3,417

$1,211 MX$21.1K

182.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Saint George: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Saint George versus $947 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $181 in Saint George versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $756 vs $249 – 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 vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint George is pricier by about 249%, 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 $6,578 per month in Saint George and $1,884 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 $4,385 in Saint George and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,313 per month in Saint George and $197 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 $1,256, than in Saint George at $4,385. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George 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 makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.