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

😐 Solo nomad: Sterling is 50.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 108.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sterling is 55.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 70.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.24 $20.24
$11.73 MX$222
72.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.1 $84.1
$41.52 MX$785
102.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.13 $13.13
$10.57 MX$200
24.22%
Cappuccino
$5.43 $5.43
$3.49 MX$65.9
55.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.45 MX$27.33
95.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.97 MX$18.33
142.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$3.03 MX$57.2
99.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78 $7.78
$4.59 MX$86.8
69.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.42 MX$26.87
-36.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.87 MX$35.43
90.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.54 MX$29.2
43.51%
Eggs
$4.98 $4.98
$2.6 MX$49.21
91.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.47 $19.47
$8.32 MX$157
134.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.09 $12.09
$8.54 MX$161
41.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.6 $18.6
$10.67 MX$202
74.32%
Apples (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$2.66 MX$50.2
74.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.51 MX$28.5
-11.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.34 $7.34
$1.9 MX$35.87
286.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.6 $6.6
$2.19 MX$41.45
201.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.78 MX$33.7
91.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.17 MX$41.05
29.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.07 MX$20.14
111.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.4 $2.4
$1.09 MX$20.53
120.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.78 $8.78
$4.17 MX$78.8
110.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 $14.21
$8.75 MX$165
62.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.69 MX$31.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.53 MX$47.74
96.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.51 MX$9.59
301.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.97 MX$510
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.25 MX$61.4
40.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 $1.33
$2.49 MX$47.01
-46.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.49 $29.49
$3.22 MX$60.8
815.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.26 MX$23.87
-29.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$29.8K MX$564.1K
-9.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$23.4K MX$442.5K
6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$84.2 MX$1,592
152.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53 $53
$22.8 MX$431
132.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 $71.9
$30.04 MX$568
139.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.91 $28.91
$51.4 MX$972
-43.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 MX$346
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$4.97 MX$94.1
199.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,744 $1,744
$197 MX$3,719
786.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$5,254 MX$99.3K
362.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.8 $47.8
$35.81 MX$677
33.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.06 $45.06
$39.43 MX$745
14.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 $97.8
$80.9 MX$1,529
20.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$86.3 MX$1,631
40.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 $1,244
$968 MX$18.3K
28.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$478 MX$9,037
188.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,000 $2,000
$1,631 MX$30.8K
22.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,205 $2,205
$1,197 MX$22.6K
84.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,739 $2,739
$3,137 MX$59.3K
-12.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$7,586 MX$143.4K
-67.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sterling
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,786 $3,786
$805 MX$15.2K
370.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
11.42
-42.47%

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

Last update for Sterling: November 4, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2025

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