Cost of Living Comparison Between San Antonio de Petrel and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between San Antonio de Petrel and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,110 per month in San Antonio de Petrel vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,694 per month in San Antonio de Petrel vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,278 per month in San Antonio de Petrel vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

San Antonio de Petrel is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Antonio de Petrel and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – San Antonio de Petrel 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.73 CLP 7,752
$11.73 MX$203
-25.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.22 CLP 39.2K
$41.62 MX$720
6.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.93 CLP 7,038
$10.64 MX$184
-25.47%
Cappuccino
$2.86 CLP 2,538
$3.52 MX$60.9
-18.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 CLP 1,170
$1.51 MX$26.12
-12.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 CLP 906
$0.97 MX$16.84
5.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 CLP 2,797
$2.95 MX$51.0
6.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 CLP 3,775
$4.45 MX$77.0
-4.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 CLP 1,099
$1.38 MX$23.93
-10.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 CLP 1,385
$1.89 MX$32.72
-17.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 CLP 1,722
$1.64 MX$28.32
18.29%
Eggs
$3.51 CLP 3,116
$2.51 MX$43.34
39.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.68 CLP 9,477
$8.34 MX$144
28.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 CLP 6,059
$8.34 MX$144
-18.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 CLP 9,655
$10.73 MX$186
1.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 CLP 1,678
$2.60 MX$45.04
-27.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 CLP 1,387
$1.46 MX$25.20
6.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 CLP 1,423
$1.90 MX$32.87
-15.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 CLP 1,330
$2.08 MX$35.91
-27.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 CLP 1,148
$1.78 MX$30.71
-27.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 CLP 1,198
$2.19 MX$37.80
-38.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 CLP 1,085
$1.04 MX$17.99
17.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 CLP 1,043
$1.08 MX$18.62
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.53 CLP 4,904
$4.08 MX$70.6
35.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.55 CLP 5,817
$10.32 MX$178
-36.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 CLP 1,424
$1.71 MX$29.61
-6.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CLP 2,069
$2.58 MX$44.54
-9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 CLP 521
$0.51 MX$8.81
15.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 CLP 451
$3.26 MX$56.4
-84.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.08 CLP 2,732
$2.49 MX$43.09
23.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.25 MX$56.2
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CLP 1,261
$1.31 MX$22.61
8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K CLP 17.4M
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-35.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CLP 19.2M
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-7.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 CLP 117.0K
$82.9 MX$1,433
59.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.78 CLP 12.2K
$22.22 MX$384
-37.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20 CLP 19.7K
$29.34 MX$507
-24.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.18 CLP 34.8K
$51.6 MX$893
-24.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.01 CLP 18.6K
$18.32 MX$317
14.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73 CLP 5,089
$5.07 MX$87.6
13.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 CLP 385.3K
$201 MX$3,473
116.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,228 CLP 1.1M
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-76.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.76 CLP 44.2K
$36.92 MX$639
34.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.82 CLP 26.5K
$39.79 MX$688
-25.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.8 CLP 54.8K
$78.5 MX$1,357
-21.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.8 CLP 72.6K
$87.1 MX$1,506
-6.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$488 CLP 433.3K
$973 MX$16.8K
-49.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 CLP 337.5K
$468 MX$8,090
-18.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$890 CLP 789.7K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-45.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 CLP 520.7K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-51.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Antonio de Petrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$453 CLP 401.7K
$664 MX$11.5K
-31.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
11.42
-54.64%

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

Last update for San Antonio de Petrel: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $488 in San Antonio de Petrel versus $973 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 47% 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 $44.00 in San Antonio de Petrel versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in San Antonio de Petrel vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so San Antonio de Petrel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
San Antonio de Petrel vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than San Antonio de Petrel?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,665 per month in San Antonio de Petrel and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Antonio de Petrel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Antonio de Petrel vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,110 in San Antonio de Petrel and $1,297 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 $434 per month in San Antonio de Petrel and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Antonio de Petrel or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Antonio de Petrel, where all-in costs run around $1,110, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In San Antonio de Petrel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Antonio de Petrel or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Antonio de Petrel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Antonio de Petrel. 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.

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