Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Santiago is 18.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santiago is 9.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 PAB 4.48

$11.88 MX$210

-62.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.31 PAB 30.31

$41.90 MX$740

-27.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 PAB 4.97

$10.55 MX$186

-52.89%

Cappuccino

$3.65 PAB 3.65

$3.60 MX$63.5

1.39%

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

$0.67 PAB 0.67

$1.50 MX$26.45

-55.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 PAB 0.76

$0.91 MX$16.09

-16.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$3.08 MX$54.4

-67.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$4.47 MX$78.8

-56.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 PAB 1.88

$1.39 MX$24.54

35.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$1.90 MX$33.47

29.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 PAB 2.50

$1.60 MX$28.27

56.25%

Eggs

$2.85 PAB 2.85

$2.60 MX$45.97

9.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 PAB 11.39

$8.36 MX$148

36.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 PAB 7.06

$8.64 MX$152

-18.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 PAB 9.82

$10.91 MX$192

-9.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 PAB 3.28

$2.61 MX$45.98

25.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 PAB 1.49

$1.44 MX$25.46

3.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

$1.96 MX$34.55

41.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 PAB 3.14

$2.12 MX$37.34

48.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$1.86 MX$32.87

23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 PAB 2.88

$2.22 MX$39.20

29.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 PAB 2.16

$1.02 MX$17.99

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$1.04 MX$18.36

52.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$4.05 MX$71.5

43.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 PAB 9.84

$10.18 MX$180

-3.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PAB 1.26

$1.69 MX$29.79

-25.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

$2.62 MX$46.25

-7.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$9.09

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.52 MX$468

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$3.15 MX$55.7

-20.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$2.46 MX$43.49

-27.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.43 PAB 22.43

$3.26 MX$57.5

588.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PAB 0.92

$1.32 MX$23.36

-30.30%

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$30.1K MX$531.0K

-34.83%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$23.8K MX$419.3K

-13.31%

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

$120 PAB 120

$83.5 MX$1,474

43.33%

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

$15.10 PAB 15.10

$22.86 MX$404

-33.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.43 PAB 43.43

$30.04 MX$530

44.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$916

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.30 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$8.02 PAB 8.02

$5.12 MX$90.4

56.64%

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

$481 PAB 481

$201 MX$3,541

139.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K PAB 15.6K

$5,318 MX$93.9K

193.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 PAB 50.5

$35.73 MX$631

41.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.57 PAB 45.57

$40.27 MX$711

13.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 PAB 89.4

$79.2 MX$1,398

12.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 PAB 121

$89.3 MX$1,576

35.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 PAB 452

$947 MX$16.7K

-52.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$642 PAB 642

$483 MX$8,525

32.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 PAB 656

$1,599 MX$28.2K

-58.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,101 PAB 1,101

$1,211 MX$21.4K

-9.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,996 MX$70.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,402 MX$113.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 MX$12.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

11.42

-45.45%

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

Last update for Santiago: January 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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