Cost of Living Comparison Between Summerside, PE and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Summerside, PE and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,810 per month in Summerside, PE vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,666 per month in Summerside, PE vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,522 per month in Summerside, PE vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Summerside, PE costs about 39% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Summerside, PE sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.67 CA$30.05
$11.96 MX$203
81.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1 CA$79.2
$47.38 MX$804
20.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 CA$14.55
$11.75 MX$199
-10.72%
Cappuccino
$3.64 CA$5.05
$4.12 MX$70.0
-11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.30
$1.40 MX$23.74
18.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.08
$0.91 MX$15.48
143.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 CA$6.89
$3.21 MX$54.4
54.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 CA$6.65
$7.07 MX$120
-32.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 CA$2.52
$1.68 MX$28.44
7.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.86
$2.15 MX$36.48
29.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.68
$1.77 MX$30.10
49.72%
Eggs
$3.92 CA$5.43
$2.82 MX$47.76
39.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 CA$13.06
$9.20 MX$156
2.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.85 CA$12.27
$9.23 MX$157
-4.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.18 CA$12.73
$12.64 MX$214
-27.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 CA$6.32
$2.95 MX$50.1
54.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 CA$2.20
$1.58 MX$26.79
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$4.92
$2.22 MX$37.70
59.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.38
$2.36 MX$40.09
64.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 CA$3.55
$1.99 MX$33.81
28.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.20
$1.98 MX$33.58
-19.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 CA$2.99
$1.24 MX$21.04
74.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.26
$1.21 MX$20.55
34.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.50 CA$15.94
$4.60 MX$78.1
150.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.21 CA$16.94
$10.52 MX$178
16.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.26 CA$5.91
$1.69 MX$28.70
152.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 CA$5.24
$2.77 MX$47.06
36.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 CA$1.95
$0.60 MX$10.22
135.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.31 CA$64.2
$29.70 MX$504
55.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 CA$4.07
$5.24 MX$88.8
-43.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.87
$3.65 MX$61.9
-63.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.67 CA$30.06
$5.78 MX$98.1
274.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.60
$1.54 MX$26.09
-24.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K CA$37.2K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
17.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K CA$26.7K
$25.8K MX$437.9K
-25.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 CA$162
$90.7 MX$1,538
28.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.6 CA$97.9
$25.19 MX$427
180.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 CA$98.8
$31.75 MX$539
124.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.77 CA$42.68
$68.8 MX$1,167
-55.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.77 CA$14.94
$29.37 MX$498
-63.33%
Cinema Ticket
$10.45 CA$14.50
$4.86 MX$82.5
115.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$606 CA$840
$226 MX$3,828
168.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,756 CA$2,436
$4,194 MX$71.1K
-58.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 CA$69.7
$47.38 MX$804
6.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.06 CA$34.75
$43.45 MX$737
-42.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.3 CA$94.7
$80.2 MX$1,361
-14.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4 CA$94.8
$91.4 MX$1,550
-25.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 CA$1,311
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-12.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 CA$1,030
$409 MX$6,933
81.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,722 CA$2,388
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-12.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 CA$1,460
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-17.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,174 CA$1,628
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-82.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Summerside, PE
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,437 CA$3,380
$773 MX$13.1K
215.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.77
11.45
-58.34%

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

Last update for Summerside, PE: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $945 in Summerside, PE versus $1,086 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 215% higher in Summerside, PE, 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 $57.0 in Summerside, PE versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 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
Summerside, PE vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Summerside, PE?
Yes – Summerside, PE is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,714 per month in Summerside, PE and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Summerside, PE and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,810 in Summerside, PE and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Summerside, PE or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Summerside, PE at $1,810. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Summerside, PE it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Summerside, PE or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Summerside, PE makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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