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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,667 per month in Southampton vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,441 per month in Southampton vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.2K per month in Southampton vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Southampton costs about 192% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Southampton sits 175% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$11.99 MX$209

399.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$183 BMD 183

$41.78 MX$728

338.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.08 BMD 15.08

$10.75 MX$187

40.28%

Cappuccino

$6.50 BMD 6.50

$3.50 MX$60.9

85.71%

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

$3.46 BMD 3.46

$1.45 MX$25.22

138.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 BMD 2.86

$0.88 MX$15.41

225.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.83 BMD 9.83

$2.95 MX$51.3

233.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.37 BMD 8.37

$4.51 MX$78.6

85.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.53 BMD 4.53

$1.43 MX$24.94

216.78%

White Bread (500g)

$8.99 BMD 8.99

$1.84 MX$31.99

388.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 BMD 5.33

$1.57 MX$27.31

239.49%

Eggs

$7.68 BMD 7.68

$2.51 MX$43.74

205.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 BMD 11.49

$8.28 MX$144

38.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.31 BMD 24.31

$8.43 MX$147

188.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.34 BMD 32.34

$10.68 MX$186

202.81%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 BMD 10.52

$2.61 MX$45.43

303.07%

Banana (1kg)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$1.44 MX$25.04

333.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.56 BMD 12.56

$1.96 MX$34.16

540.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.44 BMD 11.44

$2.09 MX$36.47

447.37%

Potato (1kg)

$8.58 BMD 8.58

$1.85 MX$32.24

363.78%

Onion (1kg)

$4.93 BMD 4.93

$2.17 MX$37.74

127.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.17 BMD 6.17

$1.03 MX$17.96

499.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 BMD 3.15

$1.07 MX$18.70

194.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.54 BMD 17.54

$4.10 MX$71.4

327.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.04 BMD 25.04

$10.17 MX$177

146.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.68 MX$29.17

223.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 BMD 4.37

$2.53 MX$43.98

72.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$3.23 MX$56.3

93.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.3 BMD 53.3

$3.23 MX$56.2

1550.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 BMD 2.05

$1.32 MX$23.00

55.30%

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

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

19.66%

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

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

62.25%

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

$237 BMD 237

$82.0 MX$1,428

189.00%

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

$119 BMD 119

$22.95 MX$400

418.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$158 BMD 158

$30.11 MX$524

425.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$13.34 BMD 13.34

$4.98 MX$86.6

167.87%

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

$1,335 BMD 1,335

$197 MX$3,438

575.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

368.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$35.60 MX$620

120.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$40.33 MX$702

48.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 BMD 138

$78.8 MX$1,371

74.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BMD 129

$88.9 MX$1,549

44.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 BMD 1,475

$474 MX$8,254

211.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,022 BMD 8,022

$1,211 MX$21.1K

562.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,656 BMD 9,656

$654 MX$11.4K

1376.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

11.42

-36.78%

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

Last update for Southampton: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1377% higher in Southampton, 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 $183 in Southampton versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $822 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

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

Yes – Southampton is pricier by about 192%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,501 per month in Southampton and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,667 in Southampton and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,335 per month in Southampton and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Southampton at $3,667. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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