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 $4,430 per month in Saint George vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,697 per month in Saint George vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,964 per month in Saint George vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint George costs about 242% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint George sits 231% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.5 BMD 59.5

$11.73 MX$203

406.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$179 BMD 179

$41.62 MX$720

331.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.02 BMD 15.02

$10.64 MX$184

41.17%

Cappuccino

$6.32 BMD 6.32

$3.52 MX$60.9

79.55%

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

$3.50 BMD 3.50

$1.51 MX$26.12

131.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 BMD 2.86

$0.97 MX$16.84

194.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.80 BMD 9.80

$2.95 MX$51.0

232.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.74 BMD 8.74

$4.45 MX$77.0

96.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$1.38 MX$23.93

228.99%

White Bread (500g)

$8.53 BMD 8.53

$1.89 MX$32.72

351.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 BMD 3.89

$1.64 MX$28.32

137.20%

Eggs

$7.49 BMD 7.49

$2.51 MX$43.34

198.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 BMD 7.65

$8.34 MX$144

-8.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.35 BMD 24.35

$8.34 MX$144

191.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.52 BMD 25.52

$10.73 MX$186

137.84%

Apples (1kg)

$10.21 BMD 10.21

$2.60 MX$45.04

292.69%

Banana (1kg)

$6.20 BMD 6.20

$1.46 MX$25.20

324.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.99 BMD 8.99

$1.90 MX$32.87

373.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.20 BMD 9.20

$2.08 MX$35.91

342.31%

Potato (1kg)

$8.42 BMD 8.42

$1.78 MX$30.71

373.03%

Onion (1kg)

$5.03 BMD 5.03

$2.19 MX$37.80

129.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.88 BMD 5.88

$1.04 MX$17.99

465.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 BMD 3.29

$1.08 MX$18.62

204.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.76 BMD 17.76

$4.08 MX$70.6

335.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.25 BMD 25.25

$10.32 MX$178

144.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.46 BMD 5.46

$1.71 MX$29.61

219.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 BMD 4.53

$2.58 MX$44.54

75.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$3.26 MX$56.4

91.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.6 BMD 53.6

$3.25 MX$56.2

1548.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 BMD 2.30

$1.31 MX$22.61

75.57%

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

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

17.24%

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

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

68.82%

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

$238 BMD 238

$82.9 MX$1,433

187.11%

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

$120 BMD 120

$22.22 MX$384

439.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$153 BMD 153

$29.34 MX$507

422.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.6 BMD 99.6

$51.6 MX$893

92.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$76.3 BMD 76.3

$18.32 MX$317

316.48%

Cinema Ticket

$13.36 BMD 13.36

$5.07 MX$87.6

163.51%

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

$1,338 BMD 1,338

$201 MX$3,473

566.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

367.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.17 BMD 30.17

$36.92 MX$639

-18.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 BMD 61.1

$39.79 MX$688

53.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 BMD 136

$78.5 MX$1,357

72.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BMD 125

$87.1 MX$1,506

43.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 BMD 2,513

$973 MX$16.8K

158.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,160 BMD 2,160

$468 MX$8,090

361.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 BMD 3,778

$1,641 MX$28.4K

130.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,492 BMD 3,492

$1,221 MX$21.1K

186.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,513 in Saint George versus $973 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 $179 in Saint George versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $753 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 242%, 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 $6,646 per month in Saint George and $1,945 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 $4,430 in Saint George and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,338 per month in Saint George 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 $1,297, than in Saint George at $4,430. 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.