Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Sal vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Sal vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,038 per month in Sal vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sal is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sal and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sal 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 CVE 552

$11.99 MX$210

-52.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 CVE 4,500

$41.78 MX$733

11.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CVE 712

$10.75 MX$189

-31.35%

Cappuccino

$2.37 CVE 229

$3.50 MX$61.3

-32.29%

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

$2.43 CVE 234

$1.45 MX$25.41

67.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CVE 113

$0.88 MX$15.52

32.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 CVE 384

$2.95 MX$51.7

34.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CVE 311

$4.51 MX$79.1

-28.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 CVE 142

$1.43 MX$25.12

2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 CVE 210

$1.84 MX$32.23

18.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CVE 149

$1.57 MX$27.51

-1.91%

Eggs

$2.73 CVE 264

$2.51 MX$44.06

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 CVE 1,068

$8.28 MX$145

33.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CVE 803

$8.43 MX$148

-1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 CVE 1,579

$10.68 MX$187

53.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 CVE 272

$2.61 MX$45.76

8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CVE 246

$1.44 MX$25.22

77.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CVE 286

$1.96 MX$34.41

51.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CVE 390

$2.09 MX$36.74

93.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 CVE 156

$1.85 MX$32.47

-12.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CVE 192

$2.17 MX$38.02

-8.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 CVE 180

$1.03 MX$18.09

80.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CVE 107

$1.07 MX$18.84

3.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 CVE 457

$4.10 MX$72.0

15.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 CVE 641

$10.17 MX$178

-34.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CVE 296

$1.68 MX$29.38

82.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 189

$2.53 MX$44.31

-22.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 CVE 100

$0.51 MX$8.93

103.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 CVE 205

$3.23 MX$56.7

-34.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 CVE 267

$2.41 MX$42.19

14.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 CVE 1,254

$3.23 MX$56.6

302.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 CVE 143

$1.32 MX$23.17

12.12%

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$91.3 CVE 8,808

$82.0 MX$1,439

11.36%

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CVE 5,402

$30.11 MX$528

86.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.94 CVE 3,370

$52.0 MX$912

-32.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$146 CVE 14.0K

$197 MX$3,463

-26.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,548 CVE 245.8K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-52.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.14 CVE 3,003

$35.60 MX$624

-12.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 14.0K

$88.9 MX$1,560

62.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 CVE 32.2K

$947 MX$16.6K

-64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 CVE 28.4K

$474 MX$8,314

-37.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 CVE 42.5K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-73.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 CVE 37.4K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-67.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$672 CVE 64.8K

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-83.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$343 CVE 33.1K

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-94.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 CVE 24.8K

$654 MX$11.5K

-60.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

11.42

-45.97%

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

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Sal versus $947 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 154% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $47.00 in Sal versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $249 – 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

Sal vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Sal and $1,884 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 Sal, 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 $997 in Sal and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Sal and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sal – 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 Sal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.