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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $6,048 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,318 per month in Saint John Island vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.6K per month in Saint John Island vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 355% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint John Island sits 341% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$70.1 $70.1

$13.02 MX$221

438.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 $150

$46.25 MX$784

224.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.25 $15.25

$12.59 MX$213

21.13%

Cappuccino

$8.99 $8.99

$4.00 MX$67.9

124.75%

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

$3.45 $3.45

$1.42 MX$24.08

142.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$0.81 MX$13.73

334.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.05 MX$51.7

64.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$6.82 MX$116

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.71 MX$29.04

90.64%

White Bread (500g)

$8.04 $8.04

$2.22 MX$37.62

262.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$1.72 MX$29.13

601.74%

Eggs

$12.20 $12.20

$2.71 MX$45.99

350.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.72 $31.72

$9.37 MX$159

238.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.84 $32.84

$8.86 MX$150

270.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.37 $24.37

$12.78 MX$217

90.69%

Apples (1kg)

$22.48 $22.48

$3.13 MX$53.0

618.21%

Banana (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.55 MX$26.24

156.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.84 $17.84

$2.15 MX$36.51

729.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$12.16 $12.16

$2.35 MX$39.89

417.45%

Potato (1kg)

$7.67 $7.67

$2.02 MX$34.23

279.70%

Onion (1kg)

$7.52 $7.52

$1.99 MX$33.67

277.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.24 MX$21.09

308.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.19 MX$20.21

202.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.10 $9.10

$4.65 MX$78.8

95.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.30 $23.30

$10.47 MX$177

122.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.58 MX$26.82

177.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.92 MX$49.48

110.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.15 $7.15

$0.56 MX$9.53

1176.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$147 $147

$29.76 MX$504

395.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$5.32 MX$90.2

454.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.0 $50.0

$5.78 MX$97.9

765.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.55 MX$26.27

4.52%

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

$48.1K $48.1K

$22.4K MX$379.1K

115.11%

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

$54.0K $54.0K

$25.6K MX$433.3K

111.28%

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

$294 $294

$89.3 MX$1,513

229.40%

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

$102 $102

$23.30 MX$395

335.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$103 $103

$31.72 MX$538

225.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

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

$222 MX$3,765

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 $80.5

$46.21 MX$783

74.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 $50.0

$44.43 MX$753

12.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 $85.6

$95.5 MX$1,618

-10.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.0 $98.0

$92.5 MX$1,568

5.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,999 $3,999

$1,069 MX$18.1K

274.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,439 $3,439

$393 MX$6,663

774.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,079 $5,079

$1,988 MX$33.7K

155.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,411 $4,411

$1,304 MX$22.1K

238.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,500 $4,500

$747 MX$12.7K

502.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

-39.66%

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

Last update for Saint John Island: August 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,999 in Saint John Island versus $1,069 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.

Salaries run about 503% higher in Saint John Island, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Saint John Island versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $993 vs $277 – 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 John Island vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint John Island is pricier by about 355%, 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 $9,072 per month in Saint John Island and $1,995 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 $6,048 in Saint John Island and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Saint John Island and $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Saint John Island at $6,048. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John Island 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 John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.