Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Joseph, MO and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Joseph, MO and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,388 per month in Saint Joseph, MO vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,414 per month in Saint Joseph, MO vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,440 per month in Saint Joseph, MO vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Saint Joseph, MO costs about 86% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint Joseph, MO sits 78% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.48 $13.48

$11.94 MX$208

12.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.35 $44.35

$42.75 MX$744

3.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.99 $10.99

$10.59 MX$184

3.78%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$3.62 MX$63.0

37.02%

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

$2.16 $2.16

$1.47 MX$25.54

46.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.94 MX$16.41

17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.09 MX$53.8

58.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

$4.46 MX$77.6

34.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.43 MX$24.80

-42.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.88 MX$32.79

62.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$1.63 MX$28.34

239.88%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$2.64 MX$45.99

65.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.70 $10.70

$8.21 MX$143

30.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$8.29 MX$144

-46.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$11.10 MX$193

31.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$2.65 MX$46.14

134.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.50 MX$26.11

28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.99 MX$34.59

134.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.08 MX$36.13

116.83%

Potato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.79 MX$31.11

146.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.18 MX$37.87

55.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.08 MX$18.73

68.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.04 MX$18.04

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.93 $9.93

$3.97 MX$69.1

150.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 $7.96

$10.20 MX$178

-21.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.73 MX$30.04

5.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.50 MX$43.46

29.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.52 MX$9.02

292.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.55 $6.55

$3.14 MX$54.7

108.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.40 MX$41.80

-41.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.34 $35.34

$3.09 MX$53.7

1043.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.27 MX$22.16

-38.58%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-1.43%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

7.71%

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

$112 $112

$82.0 MX$1,427

36.01%

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

$49.21 $49.21

$22.45 MX$391

119.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 $64.2

$29.66 MX$516

116.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.17 $43.17

$51.9 MX$903

-16.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$4.97 MX$86.5

206.64%

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

$1,067 $1,067

$198 MX$3,442

439.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

351.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.49 $48.49

$36.34 MX$632

33.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 $34.69

$40.05 MX$697

-13.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 $85.6

$79.9 MX$1,390

7.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 $93.1

$88.9 MX$1,547

4.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$963 MX$16.8K

67.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$465 MX$8,086

196.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$1,596 MX$27.8K

65.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$1,209 MX$21.0K

83.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,655 $2,655

$720 MX$12.5K

268.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.89

11.42

-48.42%

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

Last update for Saint Joseph, MO: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,613 in Saint Joseph, MO versus $963 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 269% higher in Saint Joseph, MO, 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 $44.00 in Saint Joseph, MO versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $251 – 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 Joseph, MO vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Joseph, MO is pricier by about 86%, 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 $3,582 per month in Saint Joseph, MO and $1,930 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 $2,388 in Saint Joseph, MO and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,067 per month in Saint Joseph, MO and $198 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 $1,287, than in Saint Joseph, MO at $2,388. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Joseph, MO 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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Joseph, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.