Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanford, NC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanford, NC and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Sanford, NC is 25.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 101.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sanford, NC is 78.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 55.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93 $15.93
$11.99 MX$227
32.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.7 $50.7
$42.47 MX$803
19.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$10.47 MX$198
-6.11%
Cappuccino
$2.32 $2.32
$3.6 MX$68.2
-35.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.44 MX$27.16
24.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.89 MX$16.79
119.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.09 MX$58.5
23.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52 $7.52
$4.58 MX$86.6
64.19%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.38 MX$26.04
-28.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 $3.38
$1.85 MX$34.9
82.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.57 MX$29.68
171.97%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$2.55 MX$48.3
74.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.9 $16.9
$8.61 MX$163
96.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.43 $16.43
$8.54 MX$161
92.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.83 $16.83
$10.98 MX$208
53.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$2.72 MX$51.4
109.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.51 MX$28.57
-15.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.5 $6.5
$1.88 MX$35.63
245.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$2.19 MX$41.42
84.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$1.87 MX$35.3
98.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.19 MX$41.37
24.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.07 MX$20.23
45.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.09 MX$20.64
73.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.55 $7.55
$3.96 MX$74.9
90.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$8.86 MX$167
72.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.72 MX$32.53
20.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 $3.2
$2.61 MX$49.37
22.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.52 MX$9.74
294.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.24 MX$61.2
-5.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.38 MX$44.94
-23.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.89 $29.89
$3.11 MX$58.7
861.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.31 MX$24.85
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
13.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$24K MX$453.6K
4.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 $141
$84.2 MX$1,592
67.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.49 $44.49
$22.14 MX$419
100.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71 $71
$30.14 MX$570
135.60%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.56 $43.56
$52 MX$983
-16.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 $13.73
$5.07 MX$95.9
170.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$200 MX$3,787
573.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K $24.6K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
361.83%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86 $49.86
$35.74 MX$676
39.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.55 $35.55
$39.8 MX$753
-10.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$79 MX$1,493
30.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 $156
$88.4 MX$1,671
77.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,599 $1,599
$965 MX$18.3K
65.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$474 MX$8,968
184.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,631 $2,631
$1,653 MX$31.2K
59.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,204 $2,204
$1,202 MX$22.7K
83.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,994 $1,994
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-35.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,934 $1,934
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-74.31%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Sanford, NC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,562 $3,562
$792 MX$15K
349.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%

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

Last update for Sanford, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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