Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilesha and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilesha and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $454 per month in Ilesha vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $801 per month in Ilesha vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,148 per month in Ilesha vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ilesha is about 64% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ilesha and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ilesha 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.51 ₦3,387
$11.67 MX$202
-78.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.7 ₦68.3K
$41.88 MX$726
20.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.39 ₦7,268
$10.40 MX$180
-48.17%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ₦2,965
$3.61 MX$62.6
-39.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦494
$1.47 MX$25.45
-74.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₦269
$0.91 MX$15.80
-78.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ₦1,074
$3.03 MX$52.6
-73.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₦1,852
$4.47 MX$77.4
-69.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 ₦3,063
$1.38 MX$23.83
64.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ₦1,683
$1.84 MX$31.93
-32.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 ₦3,157
$1.61 MX$27.82
45.34%
Eggs
$1.70 ₦2,287
$2.57 MX$44.52
-33.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.41 ₦8,646
$8.49 MX$147
-24.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 ₦5,774
$8.49 MX$147
-49.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.52 ₦7,442
$10.99 MX$190
-49.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 ₦4,859
$2.73 MX$47.25
31.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 ₦2,847
$1.50 MX$25.92
40.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 ₦2,942
$1.96 MX$33.93
11.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 ₦3,226
$2.12 MX$36.70
12.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,094
$1.86 MX$32.30
23.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 ₦2,739
$2.17 MX$37.67
-6.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 ₦2,723
$1.07 MX$18.59
88.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₦516
$1.05 MX$18.18
-63.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.26 ₦1,700
$4.19 MX$72.6
-69.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.25 ₦4,379
$10.28 MX$178
-68.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₦928
$1.67 MX$28.87
-58.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₦1,188
$2.49 MX$43.12
-64.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.54 MX$9.37
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₦1,612
$3.10 MX$53.8
-61.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 ₦2,919
$2.46 MX$42.66
-12.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.57 ₦6,167
$3.24 MX$56.1
41.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 ₦1,012
$1.26 MX$21.83
-40.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ₦27.7M
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-32.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ₦28.0M
$23.4K MX$406.3K
-11.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.91 ₦56.5K
$84.0 MX$1,456
-50.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35 ₦14.0K
$22.21 MX$385
-53.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.40 ₦46.4K
$29.65 MX$514
16.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.6 MX$912
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ₦8,776
$4.95 MX$85.7
31.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$83.1 ₦112.1K
$198 MX$3,438
-58.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,275 ₦3.1M
$5,322 MX$92.2K
-57.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.02 ₦25.7K
$35.95 MX$623
-47.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.91 ₦33.6K
$40.06 MX$694
-37.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.1 ₦86.5K
$78.8 MX$1,365
-18.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₦77.1K
$86.5 MX$1,499
-33.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$977 MX$16.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$471 MX$8,158
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,215 MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilesha
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$714 MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
11.42
42.99%

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

Last update for Ilesha: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Ilesha versus $977 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Ilesha versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Ilesha vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Ilesha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Ilesha vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ilesha?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 178%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $680 per month in Ilesha and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Ilesha or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Ilesha and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ilesha and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ilesha or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $454, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Ilesha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ilesha or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ilesha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ilesha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ilesha vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities