Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,510 per month in Emporia, KS vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,484 per month in Emporia, KS vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,457 per month in Emporia, KS vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Emporia, KS costs about 19% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Emporia, KS sits 10% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 $16.22

$11.60 MX$200

39.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 $74.4

$47.11 MX$811

58.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$11.88 MX$205

1.35%

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$3.98 MX$68.5

13.82%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$1.43 MX$24.57

65.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$0.82 MX$14.20

107.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.19 MX$54.9

55.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.79 MX$117

-10.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.68 MX$28.85

-51.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 $3.10

$2.20 MX$37.83

40.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.71 MX$29.41

12.28%

Eggs

$2.73 $2.73

$2.74 MX$47.20

-0.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.33 $8.33

$9.58 MX$165

-13.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.09 $9.09

$9.01 MX$155

0.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 $14.44

$12.81 MX$221

12.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.89 MX$49.74

73.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.50 MX$25.78

-23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.15 MX$36.98

27.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.26 MX$38.91

25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.98 MX$34.10

-18.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.99 MX$34.26

38.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.23 MX$21.25

50.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.20 MX$20.60

95.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 $9.70

$4.55 MX$78.3

113.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.27 $9.27

$10.37 MX$179

-10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.62 MX$27.88

9.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.88 MX$49.60

-13.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.39 MX$92.8

-7.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$3.73 MX$64.2

-48.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.80 $34.80

$5.77 MX$99.3

503.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.54 MX$26.45

-38.96%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.5K MX$388.3K

58.03%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.1K MX$448.7K

-2.15%

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

$124 $124

$91.4 MX$1,573

35.27%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$25.20 MX$434

106.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 $50.9

$31.24 MX$538

63.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.13 $44.13

$67.2 MX$1,157

-34.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$501

Cinema Ticket

$12.68 $12.68

$4.86 MX$83.7

160.91%

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

$822 $822

$224 MX$3,851

267.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$47.10 MX$811

6.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.33 $25.33

$44.29 MX$763

-42.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 $90.4

$80.1 MX$1,379

12.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.4 $83.4

$92.7 MX$1,596

-10.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$675 $675

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-36.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 $535

$390 MX$6,719

37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 $1,737

$2,149 MX$37.0K

-19.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 $1,120

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-11.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,247 $1,247

$4,001 MX$68.9K

-68.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 $1,277

$6,502 MX$112.0K

-80.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,538 $5,538

$758 MX$13.1K

630.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

11.45

-47.34%

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

Last update for Emporia, KS: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $675 in Emporia, KS versus $1,063 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 630% higher in Emporia, KS, 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 $74.0 in Emporia, KS versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $276 – 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

Emporia, KS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Emporia, KS costs about 19% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,265 per month in Emporia, KS and $1,899 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Emporia, KS and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Emporia, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Emporia, KS at $1,510. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Emporia, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,510 in Emporia, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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