πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,046 in Iernut versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,546 in Iernut versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,046 in Iernut versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Iernut costs roughly 18% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Iernut22% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.48RONΒ 38.37
$11.87MX$204
-28.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.41RONΒ 183
$42.90MX$736
-5.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.16RONΒ 36.89
$10.65MX$183
-23.38%
Cappuccino
$2.27RONΒ 10.28
$3.45MX$59.2
-34.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33RONΒ 6.00
$1.50MX$25.81
-11.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17RONΒ 5.29
$0.95MX$16.28
23.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RONΒ 10.23
$3.03MX$51.9
-25.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82RONΒ 12.77
$4.61MX$79.1
-38.83%
π Groceries & Markets
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46RONΒ 6.63
$1.38MX$23.61
5.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21RONΒ 5.49
$1.85MX$31.70
-34.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64RONΒ 7.42
$1.61MX$27.65
1.86%
Eggs
$2.91RONΒ 13.18
$2.59MX$44.51
12.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.88RONΒ 40.17
$8.26MX$142
7.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88RONΒ 31.11
$8.37MX$144
-17.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.03RONΒ 54.4
$10.66MX$183
12.85%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97RONΒ 4.40
$2.63MX$45.12
-63.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38RONΒ 6.22
$1.49MX$25.53
-7.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54RONΒ 6.97
$1.92MX$32.94
-19.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98RONΒ 8.96
$2.09MX$35.81
-5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91RONΒ 4.10
$1.86MX$31.88
-51.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87RONΒ 3.92
$2.26MX$38.81
-61.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80RONΒ 3.61
$1.06MX$18.23
-24.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RONΒ 3.36
$1.09MX$18.67
-32.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77RONΒ 26.10
$4.15MX$71.2
39.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59RONΒ 34.35
$10.39MX$178
-26.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08RONΒ 4.87
$1.72MX$29.59
-37.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68RONΒ 7.61
$2.61MX$44.85
-35.63%
π Getting Around
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RONΒ 3.23
$0.54MX$9.30
31.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.69RONΒ 89.1
$26.94MX$462
-26.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RONΒ 3.25
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80RONΒ 3.61
$2.51MX$43.09
-68.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.72RONΒ 30.39
$3.15MX$54.1
113.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54RONΒ 6.98
$1.27MX$21.88
21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KRONΒ 124.4K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-9.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRONΒ 124.5K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
16.83%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166RONΒ 750
$83.0MX$1,425
99.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.33RONΒ 37.68
$22.71MX$390
-63.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.24RONΒ 41.81
$29.46MX$506
-68.64%
π Sport & Entertainment
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.42RONΒ 187
$51.0MX$875
-18.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.21RONΒ 86.9
$18.33MX$315
4.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.80RONΒ 26.23
$4.93MX$84.5
17.65%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$451RONΒ 2,038
$197MX$3,386
128.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,633RONΒ 30.0K
$5,280MX$90.6K
25.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0RONΒ 298
$36.90MX$633
78.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.19RONΒ 146
$39.89MX$685
-19.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.2RONΒ 327
$80.0MX$1,373
-9.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3RONΒ 363
$89.5MX$1,536
-10.29%
π Accommodation & Living
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393RONΒ 1,777
$956MX$16.4K
-58.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286RONΒ 1,292
$477MX$8,189
-40.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587RONΒ 2,654
$1,646MX$28.3K
-64.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441RONΒ 1,994
$1,225MX$21.0K
-64.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,850RONΒ 8,368
$3,918MX$67.2K
-52.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,192RONΒ 5,392
$6,459MX$110.9K
-81.55%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
11.42
-32.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iernut: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $393 in Iernut and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $40.00 in Iernut vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $250 per month, with Iernut cheaper across the board.
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
Iernut vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Iernut?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,568 in Iernut and $1,906 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 Iernut and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $393 in Iernut versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Iernut or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Iernut β a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Iernut vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,046 per month in Iernut versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen β a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Iernut or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,046 in Iernut versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Iernut or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Iernut gentler on the wallet β expenses run 22% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.