Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 39.8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 34.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 21.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 37.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 BOB 19.4
$11.99 MX$227
-76.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.78 BOB 183
$42.47 MX$803
-36.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 BOB 51.1
$10.47 MX$198
-28.75%
Cappuccino
$2.72 BOB 18.63
$3.6 MX$68.2
-24.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 BOB 5.21
$1.44 MX$27.16
-47.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 BOB 4.83
$0.89 MX$16.79
-20.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 BOB 10.16
$3.09 MX$58.5
-52.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 BOB 13.57
$4.58 MX$86.6
-56.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 BOB 7.35
$1.38 MX$26.04
-22.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 BOB 9.73
$1.85 MX$34.9
-23.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 BOB 9.14
$1.57 MX$29.68
-15.29%
Eggs
$1.77 BOB 12.14
$2.55 MX$48.3
-30.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.65 BOB 31.86
$8.61 MX$163
-45.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 BOB 28.42
$8.54 MX$161
-51.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.51 BOB 44.57
$10.98 MX$208
-40.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 BOB 18.08
$2.72 MX$51.4
-2.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 BOB 6.26
$1.51 MX$28.57
-39.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 BOB 7.8
$1.88 MX$35.63
-39.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1 BOB 6.88
$2.19 MX$41.42
-54.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 BOB 6.43
$1.87 MX$35.3
-49.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 BOB 7.04
$2.19 MX$41.37
-52.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 BOB 5.38
$1.07 MX$20.23
-26.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 BOB 7.63
$1.09 MX$20.64
1.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 BOB 14.68
$3.96 MX$74.9
-45.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.05 BOB 48.27
$8.86 MX$167
-20.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 BOB 10.12
$1.72 MX$32.53
-13.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 BOB 14.08
$2.61 MX$49.37
-21.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 BOB 2.04
$0.52 MX$9.74
-42.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.71 BOB 149
$26.59 MX$503
-18.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 BOB 19.74
$3.24 MX$61.2
-11.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 BOB 10.01
$2.38 MX$44.94
-38.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 BOB 48.49
$3.11 MX$58.7
127.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 BOB 3.94
$1.31 MX$24.85
-55.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K BOB 200.6K
$30.3K MX$573K
-3.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K BOB 190.7K
$24K MX$453.6K
16.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.2 BOB 371
$84.2 MX$1,592
-35.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.31 BOB 153
$22.14 MX$419
0.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.84 BOB 225
$30.14 MX$570
8.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.3 BOB 221
$52 MX$983
-37.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.34 BOB 146
$18.72 MX$354
14.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 BOB 48.81
$5.07 MX$95.9
40.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 BOB 1,384
$200 MX$3,787
0.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,227 BOB 29K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-20.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.42 BOB 297
$35.74 MX$676
21.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.74 BOB 334
$39.8 MX$753
22.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 BOB 582
$79 MX$1,493
7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.7 BOB 423
$88.4 MX$1,671
-30.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$402 BOB 2,757
$965 MX$18.3K
-58.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 BOB 1,778
$474 MX$8,968
-45.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 BOB 5,200
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-54.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 BOB 4,462
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-45.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,375 BOB 9,421
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-55.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,667 BOB 11.4K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-77.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$401 BOB 2,750
$792 MX$15K
-49.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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