Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Luis and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Luis and Playa del Carmen

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Sao Luis is 34.8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 37.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Sao Luis is 12.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.89 R$27.13
$11.99 MX$227
-59.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.1 R$167
$42.47 MX$803
-29.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 R$41.2
$10.47 MX$198
-29.13%
Cappuccino
$2.1 R$11.68
$3.6 MX$68.2
-41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$5.33
$1.44 MX$27.16
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$3.03
$0.89 MX$16.79
-38.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 R$10.26
$3.09 MX$58.5
-40.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 R$18.27
$4.58 MX$86.6
-28.17%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.42
$1.38 MX$26.04
-28.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 R$10.51
$1.85 MX$34.9
2.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.69
$1.57 MX$29.68
-34.39%
Eggs
$1.95 R$10.82
$2.55 MX$48.3
-23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 R$50.7
$8.61 MX$163
6.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.7 R$20.53
$8.54 MX$161
-56.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 R$41.59
$10.98 MX$208
-31.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 R$10.35
$2.72 MX$51.4
-31.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.72
$1.51 MX$28.57
-19.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1 R$5.52
$1.88 MX$35.63
-46.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.82
$2.19 MX$41.42
-35.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 R$6.19
$1.87 MX$35.3
-40.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.61
$2.19 MX$41.37
-45.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 R$4.08
$1.07 MX$20.23
-31.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.36
$1.09 MX$20.64
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03 R$11.28
$3.96 MX$74.9
-48.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 R$40.32
$8.86 MX$167
-18.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 R$6.39
$1.72 MX$32.53
-33.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 R$10.54
$2.61 MX$49.37
-27.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 R$4.33
$0.52 MX$9.74
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.26 R$196
$26.59 MX$503
32.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 R$4.77
$3.24 MX$61.2
-73.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 R$2.91
$2.38 MX$44.94
-78.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 R$35.38
$3.11 MX$58.7
104.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.42
$1.31 MX$24.85
-25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17K R$94.5K
$30.3K MX$573K
-43.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K R$141.9K
$24K MX$453.6K
6.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84 R$466
$84.2 MX$1,592
-0.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.2 R$95.5
$22.14 MX$419
-22.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.04 R$89
$30.14 MX$570
-46.78%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.47 R$103
$52 MX$983
-64.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45 R$85.8
$18.72 MX$354
-17.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 R$34.51
$5.07 MX$95.9
22.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$211 R$1,170
$200 MX$3,787
5.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,323 R$24K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-18.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.91 R$244
$35.74 MX$676
22.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.5 R$264
$39.8 MX$753
19.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.4 R$291
$79 MX$1,493
-33.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.5 R$297
$88.4 MX$1,671
-39.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 R$2,186
$965 MX$18.3K
-59.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 R$1,180
$474 MX$8,968
-55.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 R$2,917
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-68.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$296 R$1,645
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-75.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,416 R$7,862
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-54.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$670 R$3,721
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-91.10%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Sao Luis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$393 R$2,180
$792 MX$15K
-50.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
11.42
-4.38%

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

Last update for Sao Luis: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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