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 $3,784 per month in Southampton vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,320 per month in Southampton vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $12.9K per month in Southampton vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Southampton costs about 190% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Southampton sits 174% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$54.6 BMD 54.6

$11.96 MX$202

356.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BMD 151

$47.38 MX$801

218.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.12 BMD 17.12

$11.75 MX$199

45.70%

Cappuccino

$6.22 BMD 6.22

$4.12 MX$69.7

50.97%

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

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$1.40 MX$23.66

116.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$0.91 MX$15.43

232.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 BMD 7.54

$3.21 MX$54.2

134.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 BMD 8.98

$7.07 MX$120

27.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.60 BMD 4.60

$1.68 MX$28.35

173.81%

White Bread (500g)

$8.26 BMD 8.26

$2.15 MX$36.36

284.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 BMD 5.60

$1.77 MX$30.00

216.38%

Eggs

$7.41 BMD 7.41

$2.82 MX$47.60

162.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.57 BMD 18.57

$9.20 MX$156

101.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.17 BMD 23.17

$9.23 MX$156

151.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.70 BMD 27.70

$12.64 MX$214

119.15%

Apples (1kg)

$12.72 BMD 12.72

$2.95 MX$49.90

331.19%

Banana (1kg)

$6.45 BMD 6.45

$1.58 MX$26.70

308.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.15 BMD 7.15

$2.22 MX$37.58

222.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 BMD 3.90

$2.36 MX$39.96

65.25%

Potato (1kg)

$7.19 BMD 7.19

$1.99 MX$33.70

261.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 BMD 3.08

$1.98 MX$33.47

55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.83 BMD 6.83

$1.24 MX$20.97

450.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 BMD 3.53

$1.21 MX$20.48

191.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.56 BMD 17.56

$4.60 MX$77.8

281.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.29 BMD 25.29

$10.52 MX$178

140.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.08 BMD 5.08

$1.69 MX$28.60

200.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 BMD 4.52

$2.77 MX$46.91

63.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 BMD 6.59

$5.24 MX$88.5

25.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 BMD 2.93

$3.65 MX$61.7

-19.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.1 BMD 71.1

$5.78 MX$97.8

1129.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 BMD 2.13

$1.54 MX$26.01

38.31%

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

$36.8K BMD 36.8K

$22.8K MX$385.5K

61.53%

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

$42.7K BMD 42.7K

$25.8K MX$436.5K

65.25%

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

$254 BMD 254

$90.7 MX$1,533

179.73%

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

$148 BMD 148

$25.19 MX$426

486.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 BMD 159

$31.75 MX$537

402.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,163

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$497

Cinema Ticket

$13.57 BMD 13.57

$4.86 MX$82.2

179.22%

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

$1,339 BMD 1,339

$226 MX$3,816

493.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K BMD 25.1K

$4,194 MX$70.9K

498.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BMD 91.6

$47.38 MX$801

93.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.9 BMD 69.9

$43.45 MX$735

60.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 BMD 145

$80.2 MX$1,356

80.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$91.4 MX$1,545

38.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 BMD 1,516

$409 MX$6,910

270.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,132 BMD 8,132

$1,281 MX$21.7K

534.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,739 BMD 9,739

$773 MX$13.1K

1159.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

11.45

-24.63%

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

Last update for Southampton: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1159% 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 $151 in Southampton versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $768 vs $278 – 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 190%, 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 $5,677 per month in Southampton and $1,958 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 $3,784 in Southampton and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,339 per month in Southampton and $226 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 $1,305, than in Southampton at $3,784. 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.