Cost of Living Comparison Between Union, SC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Union, SC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,300 per month in Union, SC vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,447 per month in Union, SC vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,593 per month in Union, SC vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Union, SC costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Union, SC sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.05 $9.05

$11.67 MX$202

-22.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$41.88 MX$726

142.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.51 $8.51

$10.40 MX$180

-18.17%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$3.61 MX$62.6

60.11%

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

$2.27 $2.27

$1.47 MX$25.45

54.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.91 MX$15.80

109.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.03 MX$52.6

-8.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.47 MX$77.4

-21.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.38 MX$23.83

-25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.84 MX$31.93

36.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.61 MX$27.82

48.45%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$2.57 MX$44.52

19.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.49 MX$147

3.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.49 MX$147

3.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$10.99 MX$190

-7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.73 MX$47.25

0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.50 MX$25.92

-12.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.96 MX$33.93

71.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.12 MX$36.70

107.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.86 MX$32.30

35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.17 MX$37.67

-7.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.07 MX$18.59

57.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.05 MX$18.18

18.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.45 $7.45

$4.19 MX$72.6

77.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.70 $8.70

$10.28 MX$178

-15.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.67 MX$28.87

5.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 $4.62

$2.49 MX$43.12

85.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.54 MX$9.37

281.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.10 MX$53.8

41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.46 MX$42.66

-7.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.06 $43.06

$3.24 MX$56.1

1229.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.26 MX$21.83

-40.48%

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

$33.9K $33.9K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

12.46%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

2.52%

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

$174 $174

$84.0 MX$1,456

106.57%

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

$66.2 $66.2

$22.21 MX$385

198.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.70 $45.70

$29.65 MX$514

54.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 $43.85

$52.6 MX$912

-16.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$12.94 $12.94

$4.95 MX$85.7

161.41%

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

$2,551 $2,551

$198 MX$3,438

1185.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K $25.6K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

381.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.17 $48.17

$35.95 MX$623

33.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 $21.04

$40.06 MX$694

-47.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 $84.7

$78.8 MX$1,365

7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 $98.3

$86.5 MX$1,499

13.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 $1,616

$977 MX$16.9K

65.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$471 MX$8,158

191.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$1,595 MX$27.6K

66.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,215 MX$21.1K

79.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,682 $2,682

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-33.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,634 $2,634

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-59.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,507 $2,507

$714 MX$12.4K

251.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-64.97%

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

Last update for Union, SC: April 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Union, SC versus $977 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 251% higher in Union, SC, 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 $102 in Union, SC versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 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

Union, SC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Union, SC is pricier by about 82%, 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 $3,451 per month in Union, SC and $1,891 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 $2,300 in Union, SC and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,551 per month in Union, SC and $198 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 $1,261, than in Union, SC at $2,300. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Union, SC 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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Union, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.