🙂A single person spends $1,133 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,747 per month in San Bernardo vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,360 per month in San Bernardo vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂San Bernardo is about 12% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both San Bernardo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – San Bernardo15% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.65CLP 9,469
$11.94MX$209
-10.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6CLP 47.7K
$42.75MX$748
25.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.39CLP 7,460
$10.59MX$185
-20.77%
Cappuccino
$3.29CLP 2,926
$3.62MX$63.4
-9.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87CLP 778
$1.47MX$25.69
-40.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31CLP 1,163
$0.94MX$16.51
39.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.32CLP 2,953
$3.09MX$54.1
7.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40CLP 3,911
$4.46MX$78.0
-1.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16CLP 1,030
$1.43MX$24.94
-18.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51CLP 1,345
$1.88MX$32.97
-19.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08CLP 1,852
$1.63MX$28.50
27.61%
Eggs
$4.10CLP 3,649
$2.64MX$46.26
55.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.53CLP 9,367
$8.21MX$144
28.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.78CLP 6,024
$8.29MX$145
-18.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.02CLP 9,801
$11.10MX$194
-0.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00CLP 1,779
$2.65MX$46.40
-24.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56CLP 1,390
$1.50MX$26.26
4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11CLP 1,873
$1.99MX$34.79
6.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93CLP 1,714
$2.08MX$36.33
-7.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86CLP 1,657
$1.79MX$31.29
3.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69CLP 1,507
$2.18MX$38.09
-22.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35CLP 1,199
$1.08MX$18.84
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22CLP 1,088
$1.04MX$18.15
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36CLP 2,984
$3.97MX$69.5
-15.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80CLP 6,048
$10.20MX$179
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CLP 1,365
$1.73MX$30.22
-10.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60CLP 2,309
$2.50MX$43.71
4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63CLP 560
$0.52MX$9.07
21.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51CLP 451
$3.14MX$55.0
-83.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40CLP 1,245
$2.40MX$42.04
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.40CLP 10.1K
$3.09MX$54.0
268.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42CLP 1,267
$1.27MX$22.28
11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3KCLP 17.2M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-37.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KCLP 19.8M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-4.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CLP 115.4K
$82.0MX$1,435
58.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.51CLP 12.0K
$22.45MX$393
-39.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.15CLP 19.7K
$29.66MX$519
-25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.06CLP 33.8K
$51.9MX$908
-26.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.01CLP 18.7K
$18.67MX$327
12.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29CLP 5,593
$4.97MX$87.0
26.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440CLP 390.8K
$198MX$3,462
122.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,722CLP 7.8M
$5,273MX$92.3K
65.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9CLP 48.8K
$36.34MX$636
51.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.33CLP 28.8K
$40.05MX$701
-19.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.2CLP 68.6K
$79.9MX$1,398
-3.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2CLP 74.0K
$88.9MX$1,555
-6.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$472CLP 419.9K
$963MX$16.9K
-50.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373CLP 331.8K
$465MX$8,133
-19.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$888CLP 789.3K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-44.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$594CLP 528.5K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-50.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,050CLP 1.8M
$3,942MX$69.0K
-47.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,513CLP 1.3M
$6,448MX$112.8K
-76.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Bernardo
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,382CLP 1.2M
$720MX$12.6K
91.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
11.42
-54.64%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para San Bernardo: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $472 in San Bernardo 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 92% higher in San Bernardo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in San Bernardo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in San Bernardo vs $251 in Playa del Carmen – so San Bernardo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
San Bernardo vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than San Bernardo?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,700 per month in San Bernardo and $1,930 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 Bernardo, 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 Bernardo vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,133 in San Bernardo and $1,287 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 $440 per month in San Bernardo and $198 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 San Bernardo or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $1,133, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In San Bernardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Bernardo or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Bernardo – 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 Bernardo. 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.
San Bernardo vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado