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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 12.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 26.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 48.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 12.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$11.99 MX$227
-10.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$42.47 MX$803
38.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$10.47 MX$198
-5.92%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.6 MX$68.2
7.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.44 MX$27.16
36.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$0.89 MX$16.79
78.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$3.09 MX$58.5
-1.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.58 MX$86.6
0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.38 MX$26.04
46.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$1.85 MX$34.9
55.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$1.57 MX$29.68
35.67%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.55 MX$48.3
15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$8.61 MX$163
12.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$8.54 MX$161
7.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$10.98 MX$208
24.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$2.72 MX$51.4
64.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.51 MX$28.57
-3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$1.88 MX$35.63
132.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$2.19 MX$41.42
62.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$1.87 MX$35.3
89.84%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$2.19 MX$41.37
48.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.07 MX$20.23
-2.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$1.09 MX$20.64
156.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$3.96 MX$74.9
37.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$8.86 MX$167
114.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$1.72 MX$32.53
40.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.61 MX$49.37
11.88%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.52 MX$9.74
92.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
$26.59 MX$503
56.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$3.24 MX$61.2
-41.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$2.38 MX$44.94
-21.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$3.11 MX$58.7
150.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.31 MX$24.85
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$30.3K MX$573K
24.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$24K MX$453.6K
36.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$84.2 MX$1,592
10.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$22.14 MX$419
17.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$30.14 MX$570
99.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$52 MX$983
8.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$18.72 MX$354
105.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$5.07 MX$95.9
95.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$200 MX$3,787
182.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
140.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$35.74 MX$676
77.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$39.8 MX$753
27.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$79 MX$1,493
58.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$88.4 MX$1,671
21.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$965 MX$18.3K
-10.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$474 MX$8,968
13.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-13.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-6.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-77.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$792 MX$15K
25.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
11.42
-10.95%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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