😐A single person spends $1,925 per month in Savona vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,812 per month in Savona vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,699 per month in Savona vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Savona costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Savona sits 44% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.07€19.85
$11.73MX$203
96.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.1€79.3
$41.62MX$720
121.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80€10.15
$10.64MX$184
10.90%
Cappuccino
$1.70€1.47
$3.52MX$60.9
-51.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.46
$1.51MX$26.12
90.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.03
$0.97MX$16.84
22.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.03
$2.95MX$51.0
98.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54€4.77
$4.45MX$77.0
24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.38MX$23.93
37.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49€2.14
$1.89MX$32.72
31.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25€1.94
$1.64MX$28.32
37.20%
Eggs
$3.06€2.63
$2.51MX$43.34
21.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.72€13.53
$8.34MX$144
88.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.04€11.22
$8.34MX$144
56.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.86€24.83
$10.73MX$186
168.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71€2.33
$2.60MX$45.04
4.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68€1.44
$1.46MX$25.20
15.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24€2.79
$1.90MX$32.87
70.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.69€4.89
$2.08MX$35.91
173.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.78MX$30.71
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$2.19MX$37.80
-19.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$1.04MX$17.99
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$1.08MX$18.62
-48.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81€5.86
$4.08MX$70.6
66.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59€3.95
$10.32MX$178
-55.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.87
$1.71MX$29.61
26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.29
$2.58MX$44.54
3.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05€1.76
$0.51MX$8.81
301.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.68€29.83
$26.46MX$458
31.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.65€4.86
$3.26MX$56.4
73.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51€0.44
$2.49MX$43.09
-79.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.85€24.82
$3.25MX$56.2
787.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.81
$1.31MX$22.61
61.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K€24.2K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-7.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K€28.0K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
39.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198€170
$82.9MX$1,433
138.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.79€10.15
$22.22MX$384
-46.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.85€22.23
$29.34MX$507
-11.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.46
$51.6MX$893
11.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.79€19.61
$18.32MX$317
24.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68€8.32
$5.07MX$87.6
90.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$227€196
$201MX$3,473
13.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,923€2,514
$5,212MX$90.1K
-43.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.2€78.5
$36.92MX$639
147.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.96€31.79
$39.79MX$688
-7.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.1
$78.5MX$1,357
17.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€86.2
$87.1MX$1,506
15.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626€539
$973MX$16.8K
-35.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$784€674
$468MX$8,090
67.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,136€977
$1,641MX$28.4K
-30.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$883€760
$1,221MX$21.1K
-27.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,835€2,439
$3,946MX$68.3K
-28.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,031€1,747
$6,498MX$112.4K
-68.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Savona
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,818€1,564
$664MX$11.5K
173.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
11.42
-59.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Savona: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Savona 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 174% higher in Savona, 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 $92.0 in Savona versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 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
Savona vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Savona?
Yes – Savona is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,888 per month in Savona and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Savona vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,925 in Savona and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Savona or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Savona at $1,925. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Savona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Savona or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Savona or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Savona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.