πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,010 in Iernut versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,513 in Iernut versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,016 in Iernut versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Iernut costs roughly 22% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Iernut25% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.84RONΒ 38.52
$11.94MX$209
-25.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.52RONΒ 177
$42.75MX$748
-5.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98RONΒ 34.78
$10.59MX$185
-24.65%
Cappuccino
$2.32RONΒ 10.10
$3.62MX$63.4
-35.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26RONΒ 5.47
$1.47MX$25.69
-14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16RONΒ 5.07
$0.94MX$16.51
23.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35RONΒ 10.22
$3.09MX$54.1
-23.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73RONΒ 11.89
$4.46MX$78.0
-38.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53RONΒ 6.68
$1.43MX$24.94
6.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18RONΒ 5.13
$1.88MX$32.97
-37.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63RONΒ 7.09
$1.63MX$28.50
-
Eggs
$3.07RONΒ 13.37
$2.64MX$46.26
16.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57RONΒ 37.36
$8.21MX$144
4.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.21RONΒ 31.42
$8.29MX$145
-13.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18RONΒ 53.1
$11.10MX$194
9.73%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97RONΒ 4.24
$2.65MX$46.40
-63.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31RONΒ 5.73
$1.50MX$26.26
-12.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53RONΒ 6.68
$1.99MX$34.79
-23.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01RONΒ 8.77
$2.08MX$36.33
-3.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88RONΒ 3.85
$1.79MX$31.29
-50.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87RONΒ 3.79
$2.18MX$38.09
-60.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79RONΒ 3.44
$1.08MX$18.84
-26.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RONΒ 3.21
$1.04MX$18.15
-28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04RONΒ 26.33
$3.97MX$69.5
52.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78RONΒ 29.55
$10.20MX$179
-33.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03RONΒ 4.49
$1.73MX$30.22
-40.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63RONΒ 7.10
$2.50MX$43.71
-34.80%
π Getting Around
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66RONΒ 2.86
$0.52MX$9.07
26.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.15RONΒ 87.9
$26.97MX$472
-25.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75RONΒ 3.27
$3.14MX$55.0
-76.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76RONΒ 3.33
$2.40MX$42.04
-68.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.95RONΒ 30.31
$3.09MX$54.0
124.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56RONΒ 6.79
$1.27MX$22.28
22.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KRONΒ 121.8K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-9.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRONΒ 119.2K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
17.30%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167RONΒ 728
$82.0MX$1,435
103.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.94RONΒ 34.63
$22.45MX$393
-64.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.04RONΒ 39.43
$29.66MX$519
-69.52%
π Sport & Entertainment
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.89RONΒ 183
$51.9MX$908
-19.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51RONΒ 85.1
$18.67MX$327
4.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.75RONΒ 25.06
$4.97MX$87.0
15.69%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449RONΒ 1,957
$198MX$3,462
126.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,618RONΒ 28.9K
$5,273MX$92.3K
25.52%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8RONΒ 296
$36.34MX$636
86.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.42RONΒ 141
$40.05MX$701
-19.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3RONΒ 324
$79.9MX$1,398
-6.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6RONΒ 356
$88.9MX$1,555
-8.18%
π Accommodation & Living
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393RONΒ 1,714
$963MX$16.9K
-59.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RONΒ 1,271
$465MX$8,133
-37.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576RONΒ 2,513
$1,596MX$27.9K
-63.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$430RONΒ 1,874
$1,209MX$21.2K
-64.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,860RONΒ 8,109
$3,942MX$69.0K
-52.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,397RONΒ 6,089
$6,448MX$112.8K
-78.34%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Iernut
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $393 in Iernut and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $41.00 in Iernut vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $251 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,515 in Iernut and $1,930 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 $963 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 $41.00 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 $1,010 per month in Iernut versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen β a 27% 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 $1,010 in Iernut versus $1,287 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 27% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.