Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Saint John Island is 111.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 358.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Saint John Island is 189.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 228.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.91 $31.91
$11.99 MX$227
166.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 $147
$42.47 MX$803
246.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.18 $15.18
$10.47 MX$198
44.99%
Cappuccino
$9.22 $9.22
$3.6 MX$68.2
156.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.44 MX$27.16
140.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$0.89 MX$16.79
295.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.09 MX$58.5
65.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 $6.96
$4.58 MX$86.6
51.97%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.38 MX$26.04
136.23%
White Bread (500g)
$7.98 $7.98
$1.85 MX$34.9
331.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$11.95 $11.95
$1.57 MX$29.68
661.15%
Eggs
$12.05 $12.05
$2.55 MX$48.3
372.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.16 $32.16
$8.61 MX$163
273.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.53 $33.53
$8.54 MX$161
292.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.01 $24.01
$10.98 MX$208
118.67%
Apples (1kg)
$21.71 $21.71
$2.72 MX$51.4
698.16%
Banana (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$1.51 MX$28.57
157.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$17.6 $17.6
$1.88 MX$35.63
836.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$12.1 $12.1
$2.19 MX$41.42
452.51%
Potato (1kg)
$7.92 $7.92
$1.87 MX$35.3
323.53%
Onion (1kg)
$7.69 $7.69
$2.19 MX$41.37
251.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.13 $5.13
$1.07 MX$20.23
379.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.09 MX$20.64
218.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.95 $8.95
$3.96 MX$74.9
126.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.69 $22.69
$8.86 MX$167
156.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.43 $4.43
$1.72 MX$32.53
157.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 $6.07
$2.61 MX$49.37
132.57%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$7.08 $7.08
$0.52 MX$9.74
1261.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$148 $148
$26.59 MX$503
456.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$29.62 $29.62
$3.24 MX$61.2
814.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.38 MX$44.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$58.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.31 MX$24.85
19.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.8K $47.8K
$30.3K MX$573K
57.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.2K $52.2K
$24K MX$453.6K
117.53%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$296 $296
$84.2 MX$1,592
251.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$99.2 $99.2
$22.14 MX$419
348.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$103 $103
$30.14 MX$570
241.57%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52 MX$983
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.07 MX$95.9
-
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$200 MX$3,787
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.6 $78.6
$35.74 MX$676
119.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.63 $49.63
$39.8 MX$753
24.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 $86.6
$79 MX$1,493
9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.3 $98.3
$88.4 MX$1,671
11.21%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,929 $3,929
$965 MX$18.3K
307.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,534 $3,534
$474 MX$8,968
645.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,017 $5,017
$1,653 MX$31.2K
203.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,479 $4,479
$1,202 MX$22.7K
272.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Saint John Island
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,533 $4,533
$792 MX$15K
472.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
11.42
-38.70%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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