Move to Playa del Carmen Mexico

We’ve started compiling a list of what things cost here in Playa del Carmen Mexico. This list was not taken from a proper price survey, but from receipts and notes we’ve kept. We’ll update this from time to time. Prices fluctuate here just like they do in the United States, Canada or Europe. We shop mostly at Walmart, Mega and Sam’s Club. If you shop at a local tienda, your prices may be different.

We’ve found the cost of groceries and househould consumables very similar to United States. Some items cost more, some cost less, but overall it’s about the same probably due to the influence of Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco.

Note: Prices are in pesos and weight is in kilograms. For a rough conversion to US dollars, divide by ten. For a rough conversion from kilograms to pounds, divide kilograms by two.

Food

1 Doz. Eggs    13.90
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice 1 Liter  15.55
Herdez Salsa    11.55
Package of 6 Bagels   29.95
1 Small Can Tuna   7.5
bananas per killigram   10.50 (varies with sales)
turkey bacon 227 g   46.20
pepper jack Cheese 227 g  24.70
white flour small pkg   23.80
Green Tea bags (25 1-gram bags)  17.20
Limes per killigram    5.90
Can of Seasoned Pinto Beans   7.30 
Cardinis Italian Dressing 354 g  38.50
Crema (like sour cream but not as sour) 31.48
Fat-free Frozen Fudge Bars (box of 6) 47.20
Milk (1 Liter Box)    12.00
Orange juice (1 Liter Box)  12.00
Small loaf of Wonder wheat bread   16.04
Avacadoes per killigram    34.85
Head of iceberg lettuce   10.30
Margarine (heart healthy variety in tub) 23.35
Onions per killigram   11.85
Papaya per killigram   14.45
Potatoes per killigram    9.80
Serano chilis per killigram  22.80
Pepsi 2 liter    14.90
Poblano Chili peppers per killigram 19.45
Rice large bag     9.90
Whole wheat tortillas (10 pieces)  7.90 (packaged bake good)
Carlo Rossi White Wine (4 liters)      158.00
Green peppers per killigram   17.95
Roma tomatoes per killigram  23.90
Paper towels (1 roll)   35.90 (Duramax High Quality)
Box of chocolate chip cookies  29.90
zuchinni squash per killigram  13.70
Cottage cheese    25.20
Turkey breast lunch meat 1/2 killigram  56.18
Quaker Oatmeal    16.50
Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal  
Grape jelly small jar   24.80
chocolate cup cakes (360 grams)  27.98
Sprite Zero – 1 can    6.00
Tortilla chips 500 grams  16.97
Brocolli (3 med heads)    15.80
Chetos Cheese Puffs 380 grams  20.00
Salmon fillets     72.93

Household Miscellaneous

10 plastic clothes hangars  17.20
Charmin Toilet Tissue    11.45 (4 regular roll pack)
Caprice Hair Spray 285 g.   21.00
Toothbrush    19.40
Old Spice Deoderant 60 g.  28.48
Centrum Silver 1/day Vitamins  79.00
Colgate Whitening Toothpaste (100 ml)  44.40
Hair Gel (32 oz)   22.85
Aspirin for heart health 100 mil 33.00
Super glue    12.90
Insecticide Spray   37.30
Pyrex casserole dish w/lid  73.50
Tums (small)    23.00

Home Office Items

HP 1012 Toner Cartridge from Office Depot $85.00 (Store brand) 

Essentials for our Son

McDonald’s Malt – Med.    25.00

When you get out of the tourist district, you will find many small shops in Playa del Carmen. Sooner or later you’ll need something that you won’t find in Walmart or Mega and will go searching for a local outlet. For us it was difficult to figure out just what these tiendas sell or what service they provide. We did some research, and here’s a list of the more common tiendas you will see in Playa and Latin America. Some are more obvious than others.

cafetería — coffeeshop, snack bar (from café, coffee)
carnicería — butcher shop (from carne, meat)
cervecería — brewery, bar
confitería — candy store (from confite, candy)
dentistería — oral surgeon’s office
drogería — drugstore, variety store (also pharmacia)
ebanistería — cabinet shop, place where cabinets are made (from ebano, ebony)
ferretería — hardware store (from a old word for iron)
floristería — flower shop
frutería — fruit shop
heladería — ice-cream parlor
herboristería — herbalist’s shop
herrería — blacksmith’s shop
joyería — jewelry shop
jugetería — toy shop
lavandería — laundry (from lavar, to wash)
lechería — dairy
lencería — linen shop, lingerie shop
librería — bookstore
mueblería — furniture store
panadería — bakery (from pan, bread)
papelería — stationery store
pastelería — pastry shop
peluquería — hairdresser’s shop, beauty shop, barbershop (from peluca, wig)
pescadería — seafood store
perfumería — fragrance shop, perfume store
pharmacia – pharmacy
pizzería — pizzaria, pizza parlor
sastrería — tailor’s shop
sombrerería — hat shop, hat factory
tapicería — upholstery shop, furniture store (from tapiz, tapestry)
tintotería — dry-cleaner’s (from tinto, red wine)
verdulería — produce store, greengrocer’s, vegetable market (from verdura, vegetable)
zapatería — shoe store