Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco de Macoris and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco de Macoris and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $726 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,193 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,660 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

San Francisco de Macoris is about 43% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Francisco de Macoris and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – San Francisco de Macoris 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 DOP 599

$11.60 MX$200

-12.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 DOP 3,004

$47.11 MX$812

8.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 DOP 459

$11.88 MX$205

-34.34%

Cappuccino

$2.40 DOP 141

$3.98 MX$68.6

-39.70%

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

$1.09 DOP 63.9

$1.43 MX$24.60

-23.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 DOP 39.74

$0.82 MX$14.22

-17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 DOP 147

$3.19 MX$55.0

-21.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 DOP 215

$6.79 MX$117

-46.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 DOP 86.3

$1.68 MX$28.89

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 DOP 93.5

$2.20 MX$37.88

-27.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 DOP 94.7

$1.71 MX$29.45

-5.85%

Eggs

$2.44 DOP 144

$2.74 MX$47.26

-10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.46 DOP 439

$9.58 MX$165

-22.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.52 DOP 325

$9.01 MX$155

-38.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.68 DOP 392

$12.81 MX$221

-47.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 DOP 186

$2.89 MX$49.81

9.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 DOP 47.78

$1.50 MX$25.81

-46.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 DOP 162

$2.15 MX$37.03

28.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 DOP 111

$2.26 MX$38.96

-15.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 DOP 120

$1.98 MX$34.15

3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 DOP 131

$1.99 MX$34.30

12.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 DOP 62.4

$1.23 MX$21.28

-13.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 DOP 57.2

$1.20 MX$20.63

-19.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 DOP 319

$4.55 MX$78.5

19.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 DOP 614

$10.37 MX$179

0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 DOP 158

$1.62 MX$27.91

66.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 DOP 179

$2.88 MX$49.67

5.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 DOP 194

$5.39 MX$92.9

-38.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 DOP 132

$3.73 MX$64.3

-39.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 DOP 356

$5.77 MX$99.5

4.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 DOP 80.2

$1.54 MX$26.48

-11.69%

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

$23.3K DOP 1.4M

$22.5K MX$388.8K

3.43%

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

$33.4K DOP 2.0M

$26.1K MX$449.3K

28.13%

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

$95.0 DOP 5,582

$91.4 MX$1,576

3.95%

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

$32.66 DOP 1,919

$25.20 MX$435

29.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.47 DOP 2,143

$31.24 MX$539

16.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$7.73 DOP 454

$4.86 MX$83.8

59.05%

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

$258 DOP 15.2K

$224 MX$3,856

15.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,675 DOP 451.0K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

81.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 DOP 2,702

$47.10 MX$812

-2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.59 DOP 2,855

$44.29 MX$764

9.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 DOP 5,310

$80.1 MX$1,381

12.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 DOP 7,565

$92.7 MX$1,598

38.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.56

11.45

18.43%

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

Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in San Francisco de Macoris vs $276 in Playa del Carmen – so San Francisco de Macoris 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 Francisco de Macoris vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in San Francisco de Macoris and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $726 in San Francisco de Macoris 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 $258 per month in San Francisco de Macoris 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 Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In San Francisco de Macoris 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 Francisco de Macoris – 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 Francisco de Macoris. 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.