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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,401 per month in Stanley vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,408 per month in Stanley vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,414 per month in Stanley vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Stanley costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Stanley sits 80% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.39 FKP 20.28

$11.72 MX$203

133.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.6 FKP 61.1

$41.89 MX$725

97.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$2.68 FKP 1.99

$3.59 MX$62.0

-25.35%

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

$1.81 FKP 1.34

$1.51 MX$26.10

19.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 FKP 1.00

$0.92 MX$15.83

46.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 FKP 3.22

$2.96 MX$51.2

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 FKP 2.49

$4.41 MX$76.3

-23.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 FKP 1.65

$1.40 MX$24.16

59.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 FKP 2.35

$1.88 MX$32.60

68.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 FKP 0.68

$1.56 MX$26.97

-41.03%

Eggs

$7.72 FKP 5.72

$2.61 MX$45.14

195.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.96 FKP 2.19

$8.32 MX$144

-64.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 FKP 4.45

$8.35 MX$145

-28.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 FKP 7.11

$10.86 MX$188

-11.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.24 FKP 5.36

$2.71 MX$46.93

167.16%

Banana (1kg)

$5.18 FKP 3.83

$1.51 MX$26.04

243.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 FKP 3.88

$1.87 MX$32.41

179.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.10 FKP 3.78

$2.19 MX$37.89

132.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 FKP 1.80

$1.86 MX$32.14

30.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 FKP 0.55

$2.23 MX$38.59

-66.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.86 FKP 3.60

$1.07 MX$18.48

354.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.84 FKP 13.95

$4.19 MX$72.4

349.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 FKP 8.73

$10.43 MX$180

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 FKP 0.91

$2.61 MX$45.19

-52.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 FKP 1.33

$1.31 MX$22.69

37.40%

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

$2,739 FKP 2,028

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-90.81%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

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

$407 FKP 301

$81.3 MX$1,406

400.43%

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

$89.1 FKP 66.0

$22.56 MX$390

295.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$522 FKP 386

$30.05 MX$520

1636.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.12 FKP 11.20

$52.9 MX$915

-71.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.88 FKP 18.43

$18.39 MX$318

35.29%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 FKP 8.21

$4.92 MX$85.1

125.41%

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

$620 FKP 459

$201 MX$3,474

208.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.6 FKP 44.84

$79.7 MX$1,379

-24.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 FKP 893

$978 MX$16.9K

23.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 FKP 495

$470 MX$8,140

42.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 FKP 1,707

$1,651 MX$28.6K

39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 FKP 1,002

$1,203 MX$20.8K

12.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,051 FKP 3,000

$677 MX$11.7K

498.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-38.70%

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

Last update for Stanley: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Stanley 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 499% higher in Stanley, 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 $83.0 in Stanley versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $252 – 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

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

Yes – Stanley is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,602 per month in Stanley 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $2,401 in Stanley 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 $620 per month in Stanley 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Stanley at $2,401. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stanley 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, Stanley makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.