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 $2,933 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,146 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,358 per month in Santa Fe, NM vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Santa Fe, NM costs about 134% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Fe, NM sits 120% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.16 $17.16

$11.99 MX$210

43.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$41.78 MX$733

91.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$10.75 MX$189

-8.74%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$3.50 MX$61.3

54.57%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$1.45 MX$25.41

98.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.88 MX$15.52

110.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.95 MX$51.7

107.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.51 MX$79.1

53.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.43 MX$25.12

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.84 MX$32.23

64.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.57 MX$27.51

107.01%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$2.51 MX$44.06

75.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$8.28 MX$145

55.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$8.43 MX$148

19.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.47 $19.47

$10.68 MX$187

82.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$2.61 MX$45.76

80.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.44 MX$25.22

-0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.96 MX$34.41

91.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.09 MX$36.74

119.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.85 MX$32.47

30.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.17 MX$38.02

12.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.03 MX$18.09

96.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.07 MX$18.84

113.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 $10.03

$4.10 MX$72.0

144.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.30 $16.30

$10.17 MX$178

60.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.68 MX$29.38

2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.53 MX$44.31

10.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.51 MX$8.93

284.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.23 MX$56.7

7.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.41 MX$42.19

-25.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.76 $28.76

$3.23 MX$56.6

790.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.32 MX$23.17

-40.15%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-2.99%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

9.09%

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

$183 $183

$82.0 MX$1,439

122.88%

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

$45.27 $45.27

$22.95 MX$403

97.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 $69.0

$30.11 MX$528

129.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.0 $86.0

$52.0 MX$912

65.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 $13.59

$4.98 MX$87.3

172.89%

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

$1,229 $1,229

$197 MX$3,463

522.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K $15.3K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

186.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$35.60 MX$624

50.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.3 $51.3

$40.33 MX$707

27.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 $88.3

$78.8 MX$1,381

12.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.2 $98.2

$88.9 MX$1,560

10.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,146 $2,146

$947 MX$16.6K

126.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$474 MX$8,314

250.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$1,644 MX$28.8K

161.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$1,211 MX$21.2K

115.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,814 $6,814

$4,056 MX$71.1K

68.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,094 $4,094

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-36.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,737 $3,737

$654 MX$11.5K

471.57%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,146 in Santa Fe, NM versus $947 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 472% 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 $80.0 in Santa Fe, NM versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 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 134%, 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 $4,399 per month in Santa Fe, NM and $1,884 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 $2,933 in Santa Fe, NM and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,229 per month in Santa Fe, NM and $197 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 $1,256, than in Santa Fe, NM at $2,933. 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.