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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $980 per month in Soledad vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Soledad vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,947 per month in Soledad vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Soledad is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Soledad and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Soledad 27% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 COP 21.8K

$11.94 MX$208

-49.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.99 COP 87.3K

$42.75 MX$744

-43.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 COP 35.7K

$10.59 MX$184

-7.27%

Cappuccino

$1.64 COP 5,972

$3.62 MX$63.0

-54.70%

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

$0.86 COP 3,144

$1.47 MX$25.54

-41.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,623

$0.94 MX$16.41

-23.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 COP 4,556

$3.09 MX$53.8

-59.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 10.5K

$4.46 MX$77.6

-35.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 COP 4,370

$1.43 MX$24.80

-16.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 COP 6,777

$1.88 MX$32.79

-1.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,833

$1.63 MX$28.34

-18.40%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 8,022

$2.64 MX$45.99

-16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 COP 25.1K

$8.21 MX$143

-15.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 COP 22.4K

$8.29 MX$144

-25.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 COP 28.3K

$11.10 MX$193

-29.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 COP 12.0K

$2.65 MX$46.14

24.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,873

$1.50 MX$26.11

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,495

$1.99 MX$34.59

-24.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 COP 6,014

$2.08 MX$36.13

-20.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 COP 5,604

$1.79 MX$31.11

-13.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,035

$2.18 MX$37.87

-49.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,671

$1.08 MX$18.73

-6.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,155

$1.04 MX$18.04

-43.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 COP 8,315

$3.97 MX$69.1

-42.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.15 COP 66.0K

$10.20 MX$178

77.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 COP 3,357

$1.73 MX$30.04

-46.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 COP 3,539

$2.50 MX$43.46

-61.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,481

$0.52 MX$9.02

30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.02 COP 109.2K

$26.97 MX$469

11.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 COP 6,949

$3.14 MX$54.7

-39.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 COP 6,263

$2.40 MX$41.80

-28.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 COP 17.3K

$3.09 MX$53.7

54.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 COP 3,498

$1.27 MX$22.16

-24.41%

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

$18.7K COP 68.0M

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-39.46%

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

$30.1K COP 109.5M

$23.3K MX$405.7K

29.15%

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

$143 COP 518.7K

$82.0 MX$1,427

73.89%

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

$10.90 COP 39.6K

$22.45 MX$391

-51.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.92 COP 90.6K

$29.66 MX$516

-15.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.77 COP 86.4K

$51.9 MX$903

-54.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 COP 10.4K

$4.97 MX$86.5

-42.66%

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

$140 COP 510.5K

$198 MX$3,442

-29.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,852 COP 21.3M

$5,273 MX$91.7K

10.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.04 COP 178.4K

$36.34 MX$632

34.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.25 COP 139.1K

$40.05 MX$697

-4.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 COP 462.1K

$79.9 MX$1,390

59.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 406.4K

$88.9 MX$1,547

25.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 COP 1.0M

$963 MX$16.8K

-70.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 COP 859.3K

$465 MX$8,086

-49.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$523 COP 1.9M

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-67.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 COP 1.6M

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-64.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,518 COP 5.5M

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-61.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,302 COP 4.7M

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-79.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

31.35%

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

Last update for Soledad: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Soledad versus $963 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Soledad versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $251 – making Soledad 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

Soledad vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,470 per month in Soledad and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Soledad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $980 in Soledad and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Soledad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Soledad, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Soledad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Soledad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Soledad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.