πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $256 in Bungoma versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $372 in Bungoma versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $488 in Bungoma versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Bungoma costs roughly 80% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Bungoma81% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.73MX$202
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.78MX$719
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.41MX$179
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.61MX$62.1
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.46MX$25.06
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.97MX$16.70
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58KESΒ 204
$2.92MX$50.3
-45.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74KESΒ 225
$4.62MX$79.5
-62.34%
π Groceries & Markets
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99KESΒ 128
$1.43MX$24.59
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48KESΒ 62.5
$1.90MX$32.70
-74.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35KESΒ 175
$1.57MX$26.95
-14.01%
Eggs
$1.29KESΒ 166
$2.64MX$45.34
-51.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.44MX$145
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.58MX$148
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.76KESΒ 486
$11.00MX$189
-65.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03KESΒ 393
$2.70MX$46.51
12.22%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.51MX$25.92
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.91MX$32.93
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.17MX$37.37
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.87MX$32.25
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.23MX$38.43
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.08MX$18.60
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13KESΒ 146
$1.07MX$18.47
5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.16MX$71.6
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.29MX$177
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51KESΒ 196
$1.68MX$28.95
-10.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74KESΒ 226
$2.53MX$43.59
-31.23%
π Getting Around
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.55MX$9.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.29MX$452
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.20MX$55.0
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57KESΒ 203
$2.46MX$42.37
-36.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.74KESΒ 95.5
$3.20MX$55.0
-76.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37KESΒ 178
$1.32MX$22.72
3.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.4KMX$402.5K
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$81.4MX$1,400
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.41MX$386
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36KESΒ 3,799
$29.97MX$516
-2.04%
π Sport & Entertainment
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$887
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.09KESΒ 2,470
$18.39MX$316
3.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89KESΒ 503
$5.16MX$88.9
-24.61%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.4KESΒ 8,077
$202MX$3,471
-69.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,311MX$91.4K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.81KESΒ 1,529
$35.61MX$613
-66.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.37MX$695
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.26KESΒ 4,950
$78.6MX$1,353
-51.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.64KESΒ 2,542
$86.9MX$1,495
-77.39%
π Accommodation & Living
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116KESΒ 15.0K
$950MX$16.3K
-87.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.8KESΒ 11.9K
$478MX$8,227
-80.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$266KESΒ 34.4K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-83.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$147KESΒ 19.1K
$1,223MX$21.0K
-87.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Bungoma
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bungoma: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Bungoma and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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
Bungoma vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Bungoma?
Bungoma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 406% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $383 in Bungoma and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Bungoma and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Bungoma versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Bungoma and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 233% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $62.4 in Bungoma versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bungoma or Playa del Carmen?
At $256 in Bungoma versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bungoma but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bungoma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bungoma or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Bungoma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bungoma or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bungoma and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bungoma gentler on the wallet β expenses run 406% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.