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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Rafael is 31.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 30.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Rafael is 13.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 35.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.03 ARS 13.6K
$11.61 MX$200
-13.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.89 ARS 27.1K
$42.75 MX$738
-53.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.08 ARS 8,265
$10.60 MX$183
-42.64%
Cappuccino
$1.84 ARS 2,496
$3.59 MX$62.0
-48.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ARS 1,382
$1.45 MX$25.08
-29.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ARS 1,380
$0.90 MX$15.50
13.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ARS 1,384
$3.03 MX$52.4
-66.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ARS 2,056
$4.56 MX$78.8
-66.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 ARS 1,371
$1.45 MX$25.07
-30.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 ARS 2,089
$1.83 MX$31.55
-15.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 ARS 1,957
$1.61 MX$27.77
-10.56%
Eggs
$1.62 ARS 2,208
$2.54 MX$43.82
-36.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.66 ARS 7,698
$8.54 MX$148
-33.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.71 ARS 10.5K
$8.47 MX$146
-8.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.62 ARS 9,005
$10.86 MX$188
-39.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.76 ARS 2,396
$2.73 MX$47.13
-35.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ARS 1,999
$1.49 MX$25.77
-1.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ARS 2,003
$1.94 MX$33.55
-24.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 ARS 1,180
$2.16 MX$37.38
-59.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ARS 899
$1.85 MX$31.88
-64.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ARS 938
$2.19 MX$37.80
-68.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ARS 864
$1.07 MX$18.52
-40.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 ARS 1,662
$1.08 MX$18.71
12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81 ARS 2,456
$4.06 MX$70.1
-55.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.07 ARS 5,531
$10.46 MX$181
-61.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ARS 1,539
$1.65 MX$28.56
-31.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ARS 2,225
$2.55 MX$44.01
-35.69%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 ARS 1,072
$0.56 MX$9.60
41.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 ARS 558
$3.14 MX$54.2
-86.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,319
$2.37 MX$40.96
-59.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 ARS 6,632
$3.24 MX$56.0
50.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ARS 1,136
$1.31 MX$22.70
-35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K ARS 42.6M
$30.5K MX$527.4K
2.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ARS 45.0M
$23.8K MX$411.4K
38.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.3 ARS 103.8K
$83.1 MX$1,436
-8.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.83 ARS 9,288
$22.15 MX$383
-69.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.47 ARS 21.0K
$29.37 MX$507
-47.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.23 ARS 35.7K
$51.2 MX$884
-48.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.84 ARS 18.8K
$18.69 MX$323
-25.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.07 ARS 8,260
$4.89 MX$84.4
24.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$102 ARS 138.7K
$199 MX$3,431
-48.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,192 ARS 3.0M
$5,207 MX$89.9K
-57.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6 ARS 112.3K
$35.93 MX$621
129.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.3 ARS 103.8K
$39.39 MX$680
93.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$147 ARS 200.3K
$80.3 MX$1,387
83.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ARS 164.6K
$87.6 MX$1,512
38.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 ARS 463.4K
$963 MX$16.6K
-64.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 ARS 320.6K
$482 MX$8,326
-51.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$672 ARS 913.9K
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-59.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$534 ARS 726.5K
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-55.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,078 ARS 2.8M
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-47.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$454 ARS 617.0K
$726 MX$12.5K
-37.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
79
11.42
591.77%

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

Last update for San Rafael: April 11, 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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