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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santiago is 23.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santiago is 2.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 PAB 4.41

$11.99 MX$227

-63.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.52 PAB 30.52

$42.47 MX$803

-28.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 PAB 4.89

$10.47 MX$198

-53.30%

Cappuccino

$3.62 PAB 3.62

$3.6 MX$68.2

0.56%

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

$0.68 PAB 0.68

$1.44 MX$27.16

-52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 PAB 0.82

$0.89 MX$16.79

-7.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 PAB 0.99

$3.09 MX$58.5

-67.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$4.58 MX$86.6

-56.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.8 PAB 1.8

$1.38 MX$26.04

30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$1.85 MX$34.9

31.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.5 PAB 2.5

$1.57 MX$29.68

59.24%

Eggs

$2.94 PAB 2.94

$2.55 MX$48.3

15.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 PAB 11.56

$8.61 MX$163

34.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 PAB 7.15

$8.54 MX$161

-16.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 PAB 9.97

$10.98 MX$208

-9.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 PAB 3.42

$2.72 MX$51.4

25.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$1.51 MX$28.57

3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$1.88 MX$35.63

52.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 PAB 3.21

$2.19 MX$41.42

46.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$1.87 MX$35.3

17.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 PAB 2.88

$2.19 MX$41.37

31.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$1.07 MX$20.23

109.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.09 MX$20.64

38.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

$3.96 MX$74.9

51.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 PAB 10.15

$8.86 MX$167

14.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.72 MX$32.53

-25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$2.61 MX$49.37

-6.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.59 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$3.24 MX$61.2

-21.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$2.38 MX$44.94

-22.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.22 PAB 22.22

$3.11 MX$58.7

614.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.31 MX$24.85

-29.01%

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$30.3K MX$573K

-35.37%

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

$20.7K PAB 20.7K

$24K MX$453.6K

-13.86%

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

$120 PAB 120

$84.2 MX$1,592

42.28%

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

$14.76 PAB 14.76

$22.14 MX$419

-33.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.61 PAB 42.61

$30.14 MX$570

41.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52 MX$983

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.72 MX$354

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 PAB 7.77

$5.07 MX$95.9

53.25%

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

$473 PAB 473

$200 MX$3,787

136.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$5,333 MX$100.8K

195.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 PAB 50.6

$35.74 MX$676

41.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 PAB 45.72

$39.8 MX$753

14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 PAB 88.2

$79 MX$1,493

11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 PAB 120

$88.4 MX$1,671

36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 PAB 449

$965 MX$18.3K

-53.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$638 PAB 638

$474 MX$8,968

34.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$650 PAB 650

$1,653 MX$31.2K

-60.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 PAB 1,112

$1,202 MX$22.7K

-7.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,081 MX$58.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,529 MX$142.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$792 MX$15K

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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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