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 26.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 53% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95 ₡5,023
$11.61 MX$201
-5.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡26.9K
$42.75 MX$739
37.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,695
$10.60 MX$183
-3.40%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,809
$3.59 MX$62.0
9.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡950
$1.45 MX$25.10
42.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡728
$0.90 MX$15.52
76.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,349
$3.03 MX$52.4
-2.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,156
$4.56 MX$78.8
3.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡941
$1.45 MX$25.10
41.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$1.83 MX$31.59
56.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡991
$1.61 MX$27.80
34.16%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,367
$2.54 MX$43.87
17.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$8.54 MX$148
19.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 ₡4,173
$8.47 MX$146
7.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,333
$10.86 MX$188
27.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,006
$2.73 MX$47.18
60.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$1.49 MX$25.80
0.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,011
$1.94 MX$33.59
125.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,586
$2.16 MX$37.42
60.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,624
$1.85 MX$31.92
91.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,477
$2.19 MX$37.84
47.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡445
$1.07 MX$18.54
-9.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,327
$1.08 MX$18.73
167.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₡2,361
$4.06 MX$70.2
26.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.98 ₡10.1K
$10.46 MX$181
110.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,143
$1.65 MX$28.59
50.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,306
$2.55 MX$44.06
11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡474
$0.56 MX$9.61
83.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.58 ₡18.6K
$26.20 MX$453
54.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡859
$3.14 MX$54.3
-40.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 ₡829
$2.37 MX$41.00
-23.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,724
$3.24 MX$56.0
150.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡663
$1.31 MX$22.72
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡17.5M
$30.5K MX$528.0K
25.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡14.9M
$23.8K MX$411.9K
36.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.8K
$83.1 MX$1,438
12.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡11.9K
$22.15 MX$383
16.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.3K
$29.37 MX$508
102.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡26.4K
$51.2 MX$885
12.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.80 ₡17.8K
$18.69 MX$323
107.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 ₡4,484
$4.89 MX$84.5
100.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡256.5K
$199 MX$3,435
181.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.9M
$5,207 MX$90.0K
146.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 ₡28.4K
$35.93 MX$621
72.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$39.39 MX$681
29.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.7K
$80.3 MX$1,388
53.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.5K
$87.6 MX$1,514
20.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₡405.9K
$963 MX$16.7K
-8.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ₡247.6K
$482 MX$8,336
11.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ₡659.8K
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-12.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 ₡475.9K
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-12.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ₡1.1M
$3,957 MX$68.4K
-42.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,773 ₡813.1K
$6,513 MX$112.6K
-72.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,007 ₡461.8K
$726 MX$12.6K
38.63%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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