Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardino, CA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardino, CA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,040 per month in San Bernardino, CA vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,426 per month in San Bernardino, CA vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,813 per month in San Bernardino, CA vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

San Bernardino, CA costs about 142% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Bernardino, CA sits 128% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$11.99 MX$210

64.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$41.78 MX$731

93.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.10 $15.10

$10.75 MX$188

40.47%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$3.50 MX$61.1

52.00%

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

$3.63 $3.63

$1.45 MX$25.33

150.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.88 MX$15.47

126.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$2.95 MX$51.6

144.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.51 MX$78.9

74.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.43 MX$25.04

-23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.84 MX$32.13

123.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.57 MX$27.42

169.43%

Eggs

$5.94 $5.94

$2.51 MX$43.92

136.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 $10.67

$8.28 MX$145

28.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.44 $13.44

$8.43 MX$147

59.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.68 MX$187

34.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.61 MX$45.62

30.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.44 MX$25.15

20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$1.96 MX$34.31

109.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$2.09 MX$36.62

160.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.85 MX$32.37

75.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.17 MX$37.90

29.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.03 MX$18.04

40.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.07 MX$18.78

97.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.01 $11.01

$4.10 MX$71.7

168.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.88 $12.88

$10.17 MX$178

26.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.68 MX$29.29

18.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 $5.73

$2.53 MX$44.17

126.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.51 MX$8.90

288.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.0 $58.0

$26.04 MX$455

122.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.23 MX$56.5

50.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.41 MX$42.06

78.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$3.23 MX$56.5

814.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.32 MX$23.10

-6.06%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$29.7K MX$519.2K

-15.45%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$23.7K MX$413.7K

4.17%

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

$251 $251

$82.0 MX$1,434

206.22%

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

$54.0 $54.0

$22.95 MX$401

135.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$30.11 MX$527

100.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.95 $39.95

$52.0 MX$909

-23.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$4.98 MX$87.0

178.92%

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

$1,167 $1,167

$197 MX$3,452

491.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,999 $9,999

$5,336 MX$93.3K

87.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$35.60 MX$622

56.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.15 $34.15

$40.33 MX$705

-15.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$78.8 MX$1,377

31.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$88.9 MX$1,555

15.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,902 $1,902

$947 MX$16.6K

100.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,674 $1,674

$474 MX$8,288

253.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$1,644 MX$28.7K

53.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,743 $2,743

$1,211 MX$21.2K

126.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,580 $3,580

$4,056 MX$70.9K

-11.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,573 $3,573

$6,470 MX$113.1K

-44.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,458 $3,458

$654 MX$11.4K

428.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

11.42

-42.38%

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

Last update for San Bernardino, CA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,902 in San Bernardino, CA 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 429% higher in San Bernardino, CA, 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 $81.0 in San Bernardino, CA versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 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

San Bernardino, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Bernardino, CA is pricier by about 142%, 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 $4,560 per month in San Bernardino, CA 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 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 $3,040 in San Bernardino, CA and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 123% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in San Bernardino, CA at $3,040. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Bernardino, CA 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, San Bernardino, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.