Cost of Living Comparison Between Sancti Spíritus and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sancti Spíritus and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $347 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $587 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $826 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sancti Spíritus is about 73% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sancti Spíritus and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sancti Spíritus 75% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 CUP 164

$11.96 MX$203

-42.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.73 CUP 594

$47.38 MX$804

-47.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 CUP 119

$11.75 MX$199

-57.87%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

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

$0.98 CUP 23.47

$1.40 MX$23.74

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 CUP 17.41

$0.91 MX$15.48

-19.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 CUP 70.9

$3.21 MX$54.4

-8.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 CUP 48.28

$7.07 MX$120

-71.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.59

$1.77 MX$30.10

-44.63%

Eggs

$2.33 CUP 55.9

$2.82 MX$47.76

-17.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.96 CUP 95.1

$9.20 MX$156

-56.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 CUP 121

$9.23 MX$157

-45.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 CUP 243

$12.64 MX$214

-20.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 CUP 72.2

$2.95 MX$50.1

2.03%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 CUP 12.47

$1.58 MX$26.79

-67.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.49 CUP 11.66

$2.22 MX$37.70

-77.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.45

$2.36 MX$40.09

-58.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 CUP 46.68

$1.99 MX$33.81

-2.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 CUP 48.75

$1.98 MX$33.58

2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CUP 24.34

$1.21 MX$20.55

-16.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.05 CUP 49.29

$4.60 MX$78.1

-55.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.93 CUP 310

$10.52 MX$178

22.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CUP 48.54

$2.77 MX$47.06

-27.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 CUP 23.52

$5.24 MX$88.8

-81.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 CUP 24.62

$3.65 MX$61.9

-71.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 CUP 47.22

$1.54 MX$26.09

27.92%

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

$50.7K CUP 1.2M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

122.35%

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

$68.9K CUP 1.7M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

167.01%

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

$29.60 CUP 710

$90.7 MX$1,538

-67.35%

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

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.86 CUP 597

$47.38 MX$804

-47.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.76 CUP 354

$43.45 MX$737

-66.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.05 CUP 961

$80.2 MX$1,361

-50.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.52 CUP 708

$91.4 MX$1,550

-67.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.96 CUP 479

$773 MX$13.1K

-97.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Sancti Spíritus: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3774% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sancti Spíritus versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $278 – making Sancti Spíritus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Sancti Spíritus vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 276%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $520 per month in Sancti Spíritus and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 76% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sancti Spíritus and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sancti Spíritus, where all-in costs run around $347, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Sancti Spíritus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sancti Spíritus – 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 Sancti Spíritus. 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.