Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $859 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Spanish Town vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Spanish Town vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Spanish Town is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Spanish Town and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Spanish Town 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,210

$11.72 MX$204

-34.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 JMD 9,846

$41.89 MX$731

49.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$10.51 MX$183

-18.55%

Cappuccino

$4.40 JMD 692

$3.59 MX$62.5

22.56%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.51 MX$26.31

-13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.92 MX$15.96

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$2.96 MX$51.6

-17.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 488

$4.41 MX$76.9

-29.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 JMD 301

$1.40 MX$24.35

37.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 JMD 404

$1.88 MX$32.87

36.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.43 JMD 67.2

$1.56 MX$27.19

-72.44%

Eggs

$3.04 JMD 479

$2.61 MX$45.50

16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 487

$8.32 MX$145

-62.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$8.35 MX$146

-77.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$10.86 MX$189

-74.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 343

$2.71 MX$47.31

-19.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 JMD 298

$1.51 MX$26.25

25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 241

$1.87 MX$32.67

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$2.19 MX$38.19

-16.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$1.86 MX$32.40

13.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$2.23 MX$38.90

-13.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 471

$1.07 MX$18.63

179.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 JMD 142

$1.09 MX$18.94

-17.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.65 JMD 1,361

$4.19 MX$73.0

106.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 JMD 1,825

$10.43 MX$182

11.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 JMD 244

$1.66 MX$28.91

-6.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 JMD 389

$2.61 MX$45.56

-4.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 169

$3.08 MX$53.7

-64.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 495

$2.40 MX$41.94

31.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.35 JMD 999

$3.13 MX$54.5

102.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 193

$1.31 MX$22.87

-6.87%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

44.27%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

41.07%

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

$166 JMD 26.2K

$81.3 MX$1,418

104.82%

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

$22.08 JMD 3,473

$22.56 MX$393

-2.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,033

$30.05 MX$524

69.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$923

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$321

Cinema Ticket

$12.93 JMD 2,034

$4.92 MX$85.8

162.80%

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

$230 JMD 36.2K

$201 MX$3,502

14.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-51.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.46 JMD 4,161

$35.92 MX$627

-26.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 JMD 3,973

$40.13 MX$700

-37.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$79.7 MX$1,390

-10.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

$86.5 MX$1,508

-10.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 JMD 25.0K

$978 MX$17.1K

-83.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 JMD 19.3K

$470 MX$8,206

-73.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 JMD 99.6K

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-61.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 JMD 59.8K

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-68.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$115.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

$677 MX$11.8K

74.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

11.42

-19.88%

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

Last update for Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Spanish Town versus $978 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 75% higher in Spanish Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Spanish Town versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Spanish Town vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Spanish Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 47%, 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 $1,289 per month in Spanish Town and $1,890 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 Spanish Town, 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 $859 in Spanish Town and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $230 per month in Spanish Town and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Spanish Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Spanish Town – 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 Spanish Town. 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.