Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between San Bernardo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $925 per month in San Bernardo vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,448 per month in San Bernardo vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,972 per month in San Bernardo vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

San Bernardo is about 27% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Bernardo and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – San Bernardo 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 CLP 7,647

$11.60 MX$200

-30.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.45 CLP 25.2K

$47.11 MX$812

-43.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.98 CLP 6,657

$11.88 MX$205

-41.25%

Cappuccino

$2.65 CLP 2,533

$3.98 MX$68.6

-33.42%

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

$0.99 CLP 949

$1.43 MX$24.60

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 1,020

$0.82 MX$14.22

30.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.20 CLP 4,010

$3.19 MX$55.0

31.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 CLP 4,504

$6.79 MX$117

-30.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CLP 1,086

$1.68 MX$28.89

-32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 CLP 1,219

$2.20 MX$37.88

-41.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,560

$1.71 MX$29.45

-4.68%

Eggs

$4.08 CLP 3,895

$2.74 MX$47.26

48.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 CLP 10.9K

$9.58 MX$165

19.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 CLP 4,308

$9.01 MX$155

-49.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.98 CLP 10.5K

$12.81 MX$221

-14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 CLP 1,809

$2.89 MX$49.81

-34.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,516

$1.50 MX$25.81

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,407

$2.15 MX$37.03

-31.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 CLP 1,688

$2.26 MX$38.96

-21.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 CLP 840

$1.98 MX$34.15

-55.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 CLP 764

$1.99 MX$34.30

-59.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 CLP 1,188

$1.23 MX$21.28

1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CLP 1,081

$1.20 MX$20.63

-5.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 CLP 3,164

$4.55 MX$78.5

-27.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 CLP 5,810

$10.37 MX$179

-41.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CLP 1,540

$1.62 MX$27.91

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 CLP 2,405

$2.88 MX$49.67

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 CLP 776

$0.60 MX$10.35

35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 CLP 389

$5.39 MX$92.9

-92.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 CLP 886

$3.73 MX$64.3

-75.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.80 CLP 11.3K

$5.77 MX$99.5

104.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CLP 1,301

$1.54 MX$26.48

-11.69%

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

$18.4K CLP 17.5M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

-18.56%

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

$21.7K CLP 20.7M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

-16.81%

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

$125 CLP 118.9K

$91.4 MX$1,576

36.36%

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

$12.48 CLP 11.9K

$25.20 MX$435

-50.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.51 CLP 15.8K

$31.24 MX$539

-47.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.41 CLP 19.5K

$67.2 MX$1,159

-69.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 CLP 7,320

$4.86 MX$83.8

57.82%

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

$447 CLP 426.9K

$224 MX$3,856

100.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K CLP 10.6M

$4,229 MX$72.9K

162.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.13 CLP 35.4K

$47.10 MX$812

-21.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.27 CLP 26.0K

$44.29 MX$764

-38.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 CLP 65.1K

$80.1 MX$1,381

-14.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 CLP 78.4K

$92.7 MX$1,598

-11.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 CLP 265.8K

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-73.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 CLP 244.0K

$390 MX$6,728

-34.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 CLP 683.3K

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-66.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 CLP 526.7K

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-56.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,925 CLP 1.8M

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-51.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,417 CLP 1.4M

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-78.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,347 CLP 1.3M

$758 MX$13.1K

77.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

11.45

-52.93%

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

Last update for San Bernardo: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in San Bernardo versus $1,063 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 78% 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 $26.00 in San Bernardo versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $276 – making San Bernardo 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 Bernardo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,387 per month in San Bernardo and $1,899 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 San Bernardo, 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 $925 in San Bernardo and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $447 per month in San Bernardo and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In San Bernardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.