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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shantou is 27.9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 46.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shantou is 24.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 50.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07 ¥14.13
$11.61 MX$200
-82.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42 ¥112
$42.75 MX$738
-61.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ¥32.63
$10.60 MX$183
-54.91%
Cappuccino
$3.17 ¥21.66
$3.59 MX$62.0
-11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.05
$1.45 MX$25.08
-68.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.05
$0.90 MX$15.50
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ¥5.66
$3.03 MX$52.4
-72.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 ¥17.89
$4.56 MX$78.8
-42.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 ¥11.61
$1.45 MX$25.07
17.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 ¥9.22
$1.83 MX$31.55
-26.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.66
$1.61 MX$27.77
-57.76%
Eggs
$1.83 ¥12.52
$2.54 MX$43.82
-27.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.68 ¥86.6
$8.54 MX$148
48.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 ¥26.56
$8.47 MX$146
-54.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.27 ¥83.8
$10.86 MX$188
12.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 ¥12.83
$2.73 MX$47.13
-31.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ¥9.60
$1.49 MX$25.77
-5.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ¥11.18
$1.94 MX$33.55
-15.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.74
$2.16 MX$37.38
-40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.35
$1.85 MX$31.88
-57.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.54
$2.19 MX$37.80
-56.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ¥4.36
$1.07 MX$18.52
-40.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ¥2.77
$1.08 MX$18.71
-62.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ¥23.49
$4.06 MX$70.1
-15.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.87 ¥81.1
$10.46 MX$181
13.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.22
$1.65 MX$28.56
-53.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ¥12.72
$2.55 MX$44.01
-27.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 ¥2.29
$0.56 MX$9.60
-41.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.35 ¥153
$26.20 MX$453
-14.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ¥10.16
$3.14 MX$54.2
-52.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.25
$2.37 MX$40.96
-86.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.83 ¥46.63
$3.24 MX$56.0
110.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥7.79
$1.31 MX$22.70
-12.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ¥143.2K
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-31.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ¥129.9K
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-20.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.5 ¥372
$83.1 MX$1,436
-34.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.40 ¥57.4
$22.15 MX$383
-62.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.00 ¥88.8
$29.37 MX$507
-55.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.83 ¥286
$51.2 MX$884
-18.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.84 ¥94.5
$18.69 MX$323
-25.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90 ¥47.15
$4.89 MX$84.4
41.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$461 ¥3,152
$199 MX$3,431
132.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K ¥142.9K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
301.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.51 ¥338
$35.93 MX$621
37.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89 ¥204
$39.39 MX$680
-24.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 ¥507
$80.3 MX$1,387
-7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 ¥533
$87.6 MX$1,512
-10.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 ¥1,894
$963 MX$16.6K
-71.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 ¥938
$482 MX$8,326
-71.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 ¥3,817
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-66.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ¥1,874
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-76.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,209 ¥15.1K
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-44.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,403 ¥30.1K
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-32.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,031 ¥7,043
$726 MX$12.5K
41.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
11.42
-64.62%

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

Last update for Shantou: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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