Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Fe, NM and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Fe, NM and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,872 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,137 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,402 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Santa Fe, NM costs about 121% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Fe, NM sits 114% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 $17.23

$11.73 MX$203

46.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$41.62 MX$720

95.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.64 MX$184

-7.14%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$3.52 MX$60.9

54.55%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.51 MX$26.12

81.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.97 MX$16.84

84.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.95 MX$51.0

104.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$4.45 MX$77.0

54.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.38 MX$23.93

-26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 $3.01

$1.89 MX$32.72

59.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.64 MX$28.32

99.39%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$2.51 MX$43.34

80.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$8.34 MX$144

51.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.41 $10.41

$8.34 MX$144

24.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.89 $19.89

$10.73 MX$186

85.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$2.60 MX$45.04

82.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.46 MX$25.20

-3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.90 MX$32.87

95.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.08 MX$35.91

113.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.78 MX$30.71

33.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.19 MX$37.80

15.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.04 MX$17.99

97.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.08 MX$18.62

112.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$4.08 MX$70.6

142.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.25 $16.25

$10.32 MX$178

57.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.71 MX$29.61

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.58 MX$44.54

9.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.51 MX$8.81

282.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.26 MX$56.4

4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.49 MX$43.09

-27.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.45 $29.45

$3.25 MX$56.2

806.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.31 MX$22.61

-39.69%

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

$28.6K $28.6K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-5.45%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

8.74%

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

$181 $181

$82.9 MX$1,433

118.73%

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

$44.14 $44.14

$22.22 MX$384

98.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$29.34 MX$507

129.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.2 $85.2

$51.6 MX$893

65.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 $13.79

$5.07 MX$87.6

171.99%

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

$1,246 $1,246

$201 MX$3,473

520.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K $15.5K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

196.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 $54.0

$36.92 MX$639

46.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$39.79 MX$688

27.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$78.5 MX$1,357

13.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$87.1 MX$1,506

16.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,154 $2,154

$973 MX$16.8K

121.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,669 $1,669

$468 MX$8,090

256.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,340 $4,340

$1,641 MX$28.4K

164.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,563 $2,563

$1,221 MX$21.1K

109.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,735 $6,735

$3,946 MX$68.3K

70.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,052 $4,052

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-37.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,722 $3,722

$664 MX$11.5K

460.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

11.42

-43.17%

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

Last update for Santa Fe, NM: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,154 in Santa Fe, NM versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 461% higher in Santa Fe, NM, 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 $81.0 in Santa Fe, NM versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Santa Fe, NM vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Fe, NM is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,308 per month in Santa Fe, NM and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,872 in Santa Fe, NM and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,246 per month in Santa Fe, NM and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Santa Fe, NM at $2,872. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Fe, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Fe, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.