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 $4,850 per month in Saint George vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,059 per month in Saint George vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,268 per month in Saint George vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint George costs about 272% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint George sits 252% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$54.1 BMD 54.1

$11.96 MX$203

352.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 BMD 148

$47.38 MX$804

213.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.06 BMD 17.06

$11.75 MX$199

45.19%

Cappuccino

$6.28 BMD 6.28

$4.12 MX$70.0

52.43%

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

$3.16 BMD 3.16

$1.40 MX$23.74

125.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BMD 3.14

$0.91 MX$15.48

245.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 BMD 7.36

$3.21 MX$54.4

129.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 BMD 9.01

$7.07 MX$120

27.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.68 BMD 4.68

$1.68 MX$28.44

178.57%

White Bread (500g)

$8.49 BMD 8.49

$2.15 MX$36.48

294.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.94 BMD 3.94

$1.77 MX$30.10

122.60%

Eggs

$7.63 BMD 7.63

$2.82 MX$47.76

170.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 BMD 7.31

$9.20 MX$156

-20.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.00 BMD 23.00

$9.23 MX$157

149.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.34 BMD 25.34

$12.64 MX$214

100.47%

Apples (1kg)

$11.58 BMD 11.58

$2.95 MX$50.1

292.54%

Banana (1kg)

$6.70 BMD 6.70

$1.58 MX$26.79

324.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.88 BMD 8.88

$2.22 MX$37.70

300.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.59 BMD 9.59

$2.36 MX$40.09

306.36%

Potato (1kg)

$9.12 BMD 9.12

$1.99 MX$33.81

358.29%

Onion (1kg)

$10.85 BMD 10.85

$1.98 MX$33.58

447.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.62 BMD 6.62

$1.24 MX$21.04

433.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 BMD 3.64

$1.21 MX$20.55

200.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.83 BMD 17.83

$4.60 MX$78.1

287.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.92 BMD 24.92

$10.52 MX$178

136.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.05 BMD 5.05

$1.69 MX$28.70

198.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 BMD 4.43

$2.77 MX$47.06

59.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.64 BMD 6.64

$5.24 MX$88.8

26.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 BMD 2.93

$3.65 MX$61.9

-19.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$69.3 BMD 69.3

$5.78 MX$98.1

1098.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 BMD 2.44

$1.54 MX$26.09

58.44%

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

$38.2K BMD 38.2K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

67.33%

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

$41.8K BMD 41.8K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

61.99%

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

$250 BMD 250

$90.7 MX$1,538

175.64%

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

$146 BMD 146

$25.19 MX$427

480.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$162 BMD 162

$31.75 MX$539

410.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 BMD 13.58

$4.86 MX$82.5

179.42%

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

$1,326 BMD 1,326

$226 MX$3,828

487.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K BMD 25.2K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

501.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 BMD 88.4

$47.38 MX$804

86.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.2 BMD 71.2

$43.45 MX$737

63.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$80.2 MX$1,361

77.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$91.4 MX$1,550

38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,062 BMD 3,062

$1,086 MX$18.4K

182.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 BMD 2,674

$409 MX$6,933

554.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,924 BMD 4,924

$1,972 MX$33.5K

149.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,010 BMD 4,010

$1,281 MX$21.7K

212.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

11.45

-24.63%

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

Last update for Saint George: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,062 in Saint George versus $1,086 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 $148 in Saint George versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $776 vs $278 – 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 272%, 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 $7,275 per month in Saint George and $1,958 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 $4,850 in Saint George and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,326 per month in Saint George and $226 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 $1,305, than in Saint George at $4,850. 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.