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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 68.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 252.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 129.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 170.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.3 $20.3
$11.99 MX$227
69.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$42.47 MX$803
135.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 $11.54
$10.47 MX$198
10.22%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$3.6 MX$68.2
60.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$1.44 MX$27.16
123.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.89 MX$16.79
177.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.8 $8.8
$3.09 MX$58.5
184.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.92 $10.92
$4.58 MX$86.6
138.43%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.38 MX$26.04
5.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$1.85 MX$34.9
167.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.57 MX$29.68
103.18%
Eggs
$4.85 $4.85
$2.55 MX$48.3
90.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.13 $21.13
$8.61 MX$163
145.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.17 $15.17
$8.54 MX$161
77.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.45 $22.45
$10.98 MX$208
104.46%
Apples (1kg)
$6.08 $6.08
$2.72 MX$51.4
123.53%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.51 MX$28.57
62.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$1.88 MX$35.63
154.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$2.19 MX$41.42
208.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$1.87 MX$35.3
83.96%
Onion (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$2.19 MX$41.37
95.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.07 MX$20.23
177.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.09 MX$20.64
154.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32 $11.32
$3.96 MX$74.9
185.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 $14.95
$8.86 MX$167
68.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 MX$32.53
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.61 MX$49.37
28.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.52 MX$9.74
386.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89 $89
$26.59 MX$503
234.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.24 MX$61.2
5.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.38 MX$44.94
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.82 $29.82
$3.11 MX$58.7
858.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.31 MX$24.85
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$30.3K MX$573K
-0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$24K MX$453.6K
12.52%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 $292
$84.2 MX$1,592
247.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.13 $49.13
$22.14 MX$419
121.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.9 $67.9
$30.14 MX$570
125.12%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$52 MX$983
134.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.12 $30.12
$18.72 MX$354
60.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.45 $15.45
$5.07 MX$95.9
204.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,985 $1,985
$200 MX$3,787
890.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K $26.2K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
390.74%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$35.74 MX$676
46.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.85 $43.85
$39.8 MX$753
10.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 $89.8
$79 MX$1,493
13.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$88.4 MX$1,671
56.34%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,022 $3,022
$965 MX$18.3K
213.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,672 $2,672
$474 MX$8,968
463.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,283 $5,283
$1,653 MX$31.2K
219.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,622 $4,622
$1,202 MX$22.7K
284.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.6K $10.6K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
242.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,587 $9,587
$7,529 MX$142.3K
27.33%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,864 $5,864
$792 MX$15K
640.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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