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 $335 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $579 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $824 per month in Sancti Spíritus vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sancti Spíritus is about 74% 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 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.98 CUP 167

$11.73 MX$203

-40.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.35 CUP 608

$41.62 MX$720

-39.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 CUP 122

$10.64 MX$184

-52.26%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$0.98 CUP 23.56

$1.51 MX$26.12

-35.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 CUP 18.54

$0.97 MX$16.84

-20.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 CUP 72.3

$2.95 MX$51.0

2.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CUP 47.13

$4.45 MX$77.0

-55.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 CUP 24.36

$1.64 MX$28.32

-38.41%

Eggs

$2.44 CUP 58.5

$2.51 MX$43.34

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.06 CUP 97.6

$8.34 MX$144

-51.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 CUP 121

$8.34 MX$144

-39.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 CUP 243

$10.73 MX$186

-5.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 CUP 71.1

$2.60 MX$45.04

13.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 CUP 12.52

$1.46 MX$25.20

-64.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.51 CUP 12.35

$1.90 MX$32.87

-73.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.48

$2.08 MX$35.91

-50.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 CUP 46.64

$1.78 MX$30.71

8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CUP 47.68

$2.19 MX$37.80

-9.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 CUP 24.40

$1.08 MX$18.62

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 CUP 47.63

$4.08 MX$70.6

-51.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.19 CUP 317

$10.32 MX$178

27.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CUP 48.42

$2.58 MX$44.54

-21.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 CUP 24.71

$3.26 MX$56.4

-68.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 CUP 24.33

$2.49 MX$43.09

-59.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 CUP 48.71

$1.31 MX$22.61

54.96%

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

$50.9K CUP 1.2M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

68.08%

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

$69.2K CUP 1.7M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

195.53%

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

$30.30 CUP 727

$82.9 MX$1,433

-63.44%

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.72 CUP 593

$36.92 MX$639

-33.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.19 CUP 365

$39.79 MX$688

-61.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.28 CUP 967

$78.5 MX$1,357

-48.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.34 CUP 728

$87.1 MX$1,506

-65.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.63 CUP 471

$664 MX$11.5K

-97.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Sancti Spíritus: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3282% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $249 – 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 287%, 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 $503 per month in Sancti Spíritus and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $42.00 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 $335, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.