Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Playa del Carmen
😐 Solo nomad: Saint John Island is 212.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 366.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Saint John Island is 177.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 225.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.14 $31.14
$11.85 MX$211
162.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$148 $148
$42.16 MX$750
251.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.05 $15.05
$10.75 MX$191
40.00%
Cappuccino
$9.13 $9.13
$3.47 MX$61.8
163.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.45 MX$25.85
138.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$0.90 MX$16.06
297.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.05 MX$54.3
60.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17 $7.17
$4.42 MX$78.6
62.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.37 MX$24.36
135.77%
White Bread (500g)
$7.83 $7.83
$1.87 MX$33.31
318.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$11.97 $11.97
$1.54 MX$27.46
677.27%
Eggs
$11.96 $11.96
$2.50 MX$44.53
378.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.55 $32.55
$8.61 MX$153
278.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.68 $33.68
$8.63 MX$154
290.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.69 $23.69
$11.02 MX$196
114.97%
Apples (1kg)
$21.75 $21.75
$2.75 MX$48.91
690.91%
Banana (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$1.43 MX$25.41
183.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$17.50 $17.50
$1.87 MX$33.32
835.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$12.13 $12.13
$2.17 MX$38.56
458.99%
Potato (1kg)
$7.74 $7.74
$1.88 MX$33.50
311.70%
Onion (1kg)
$7.91 $7.91
$2.25 MX$39.96
251.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.02 $5.02
$1.07 MX$18.99
369.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.07 MX$19.10
219.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.77 $8.77
$4.15 MX$73.9
111.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.16 $23.16
$10.34 MX$184
123.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.48 $4.48
$1.68 MX$29.87
166.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 $6.03
$2.48 MX$44.19
143.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.99 $6.99
$0.55 MX$9.87
1170.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$152 $152
$26.53 MX$472
473.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$29.87 $29.87
$3.22 MX$57.2
827.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 MX$44.15
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$55.3
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.26 MX$22.34
30.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.3K $48.3K
$30.7K MX$545.4K
57.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.7K $52.7K
$24.0K MX$427.6K
119.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$304 $304
$82.5 MX$1,467
268.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$99.0 $99.0
$22.29 MX$396
344.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 $103
$30.02 MX$534
241.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.4 MX$915
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.98 MX$88.7
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$200 MX$3,558
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,304 MX$94.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.9 $78.9
$35.71 MX$635
121.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.18 $49.18
$39.56 MX$704
24.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 $85.0
$80.6 MX$1,433
5.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9 $99.9
$88.3 MX$1,571
13.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,008 $4,008
$969 MX$17.2K
313.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,552 $3,552
$482 MX$8,579
636.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,906 $4,906
$1,595 MX$28.4K
207.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,432 $4,432
$1,184 MX$21.1K
274.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,050 MX$72.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,522 MX$116.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,585 $4,585
$756 MX$13.5K
506.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
11.42
-38.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint John Island: March 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index