🙂A single person spends $741 per month in Samtredia vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,203 per month in Samtredia vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,664 per month in Samtredia vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Samtredia is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Samtredia and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Samtredia46% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.57₾30.18
$11.71MX$198
-1.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.23₾99.7
$46.59MX$787
-17.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88₾25.77
$11.65MX$197
-15.19%
Cappuccino
$3.47₾9.04
$4.09MX$69.2
-15.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10₾2.87
$1.37MX$23.23
-19.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.83MX$14.09
-22.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65₾6.91
$3.35MX$56.7
-20.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11₾8.10
$6.91MX$117
-54.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18₾5.69
$1.73MX$29.19
26.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79₾2.05
$2.26MX$38.20
-65.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59₾4.15
$1.77MX$29.90
-10.17%
Eggs
$2.74₾7.15
$2.73MX$46.18
0.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.38₾24.47
$9.18MX$155
2.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83₾17.81
$8.92MX$151
-23.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81₾33.42
$12.60MX$213
1.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62₾4.23
$3.02MX$51.1
-46.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84₾4.81
$1.57MX$26.54
17.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.89
$2.13MX$35.92
-12.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56₾6.68
$2.26MX$38.27
13.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.26
$2.00MX$33.87
-56.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68₾1.78
$2.06MX$34.89
-66.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41₾3.68
$1.18MX$19.94
19.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.10
$1.20MX$20.35
-32.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48₾9.06
$4.63MX$78.3
-24.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.46₾19.45
$10.69MX$181
-30.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68₾4.38
$1.62MX$27.37
3.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27₾5.92
$2.88MX$48.69
-21.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57MX$9.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.08
$5.45MX$92.1
-78.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75₾1.95
$3.70MX$62.6
-79.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.32₾29.51
$5.98MX$101
89.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$1.55MX$26.25
-14.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K₾64.1K
$22.3KMX$377.3K
10.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K₾56.6K
$25.9KMX$438.5K
-16.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.3₾230
$89.1MX$1,506
-0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.06₾34.06
$25.04MX$423
-47.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.36₾50.5
$31.50MX$532
-38.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.8MX$1,145
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76₾17.62
$5.05MX$85.3
33.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$371₾968
$225MX$3,802
65.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K₾27.7K
$4,222MX$71.4K
151.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$47.44MX$802
112.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.79₾101
$44.98MX$760
-13.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾306
$82.0MX$1,386
43.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120₾314
$92.1MX$1,556
30.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$405MX$6,850
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,935MX$32.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,301MX$22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,995MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,626MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samtredia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.73
11.45
11.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samtredia: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Samtredia versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $277 – making Samtredia 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
Samtredia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Samtredia?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,111 per month in Samtredia and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Samtredia and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $741 in Samtredia and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Samtredia and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Samtredia or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Samtredia, where all-in costs run around $741, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Samtredia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Samtredia or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samtredia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Samtredia or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samtredia. 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.