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 $3,011 per month in Stanley vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,572 per month in Stanley vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,134 per month in Stanley vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Stanley costs about 138% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Stanley sits 120% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.95 FKP 20.10

$11.60 MX$200

132.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 FKP 59.7

$47.11 MX$811

69.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

Cappuccino

$4.33 FKP 3.23

$3.98 MX$68.5

8.79%

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

$2.36 FKP 1.76

$1.43 MX$24.57

65.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 FKP 1.04

$0.82 MX$14.20

69.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 FKP 3.09

$3.19 MX$54.9

30.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 FKP 1.88

$6.79 MX$117

-62.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 FKP 1.75

$1.68 MX$28.85

39.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 FKP 2.27

$2.20 MX$37.83

38.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 FKP 0.64

$1.71 MX$29.41

-49.71%

Eggs

$7.45 FKP 5.56

$2.74 MX$47.20

171.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.06 FKP 2.29

$9.58 MX$165

-68.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.86 FKP 7.36

$9.01 MX$155

9.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 FKP 8.89

$12.81 MX$221

-6.95%

Apples (1kg)

$9.35 FKP 6.97

$2.89 MX$49.74

223.53%

Banana (1kg)

$5.47 FKP 4.08

$1.50 MX$25.78

264.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.72 FKP 7.99

$2.15 MX$36.98

398.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.01 FKP 5.98

$2.26 MX$38.91

254.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 FKP 2.47

$1.98 MX$34.10

67.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 FKP 0.53

$1.99 MX$34.26

-64.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.41 FKP 3.29

$1.23 MX$21.25

258.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.52 FKP 12.33

$4.55 MX$78.3

263.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.94 FKP 8.91

$10.37 MX$179

15.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 FKP 1.83

$2.88 MX$49.60

-14.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 FKP 5.15

$5.39 MX$92.8

28.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.2

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 FKP 1.20

$1.54 MX$26.45

4.55%

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

$22.5K MX$388.3K

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

$26.1K MX$448.7K

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

$390 FKP 291

$91.4 MX$1,573

326.63%

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

$77.9 FKP 58.1

$25.20 MX$434

209.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$455 FKP 340

$31.24 MX$538

1357.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.17 FKP 16.54

$67.2 MX$1,157

-67.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$12.39 FKP 9.24

$4.86 MX$83.7

154.94%

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

$224 MX$3,851

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$114 FKP 85.0

$47.10 MX$811

142.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$95.7 FKP 71.4

$44.29 MX$763

116.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 FKP 121

$80.1 MX$1,379

102.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 FKP 80.8

$92.7 MX$1,596

16.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 FKP 1,111

$1,063 MX$18.3K

40.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,075 FKP 802

$390 MX$6,719

175.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,684 FKP 2,002

$2,149 MX$37.0K

24.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 FKP 1,843

$1,272 MX$21.9K

94.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$68.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,061 FKP 3,030

$758 MX$13.1K

435.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.75

11.45

-32.31%

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

Last update for Stanley: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Stanley versus $1,063 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 436% 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 $80.0 in Stanley versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $276 – 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 138%, 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 $4,516 per month in Stanley and $1,899 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.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Stanley, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Stanley and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Stanley at $3,011. 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.