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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Ishim vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,640 per month in Ishim vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,199 per month in Ishim vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ishim is about 16% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ishim and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ishim 19% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ₽764

$11.94 MX$209

-14.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.57 ₽2,672

$42.75 MX$748

-16.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 ₽661

$10.59 MX$185

-17.00%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₽192

$3.62 MX$63.4

-29.56%

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

$0.93 ₽69.8

$1.47 MX$25.69

-36.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₽40.67

$0.94 MX$16.51

-42.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₽79.8

$3.09 MX$54.1

-65.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₽145

$4.46 MX$78.0

-56.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽81.6

$1.43 MX$24.94

-23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ₽46.65

$1.88 MX$32.97

-67.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₽95.2

$1.63 MX$28.50

-22.09%

Eggs

$1.64 ₽123

$2.64 MX$46.26

-37.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₽806

$8.21 MX$144

30.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₽314

$8.29 MX$145

-49.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 ₽905

$11.10 MX$194

8.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 ₽122

$2.65 MX$46.40

-38.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₽142

$1.50 MX$26.26

26.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ₽129

$1.99 MX$34.79

-14.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 ₽174

$2.08 MX$36.33

11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ₽70.3

$1.79 MX$31.29

-47.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₽51.0

$2.18 MX$38.09

-68.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₽77.3

$1.08 MX$18.84

-4.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₽52.4

$1.04 MX$18.15

-32.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₽227

$3.97 MX$69.5

-23.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 ₽538

$10.20 MX$179

-29.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₽72.3

$1.73 MX$30.22

-44.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₽92.1

$2.50 MX$43.71

-50.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽39.17

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ₽230

$3.14 MX$55.0

-2.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₽18.13

$2.40 MX$42.04

-90.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 ₽454

$3.09 MX$54.0

95.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 ₽55.2

$1.27 MX$22.28

-42.52%

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

$25.5K ₽1.9M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-17.29%

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

$23.5K ₽1.8M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

0.78%

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

$157 ₽11.8K

$82.0 MX$1,435

91.64%

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

$4.97 ₽373

$22.45 MX$393

-77.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.73 ₽806

$29.66 MX$519

-63.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.06 ₽2,708

$51.9 MX$908

-30.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 ₽329

$4.97 MX$87.0

-11.67%

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

$181 ₽13.6K

$198 MX$3,462

-8.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,444 ₽634.2K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

60.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.8 ₽7,344

$36.34 MX$636

169.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.56 ₽3,422

$40.05 MX$701

13.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ₽11.0K

$79.9 MX$1,398

83.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 ₽12.0K

$88.9 MX$1,555

80.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₽33.9K

$963 MX$16.9K

-53.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽22.7K

$465 MX$8,133

-34.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₽56.7K

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-52.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 ₽37.5K

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-58.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 ₽141.4K

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-52.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 ₽110.3K

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-77.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.38

11.42

95.97%

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

Last update for Ishim: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Ishim versus $963 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 $36.00 in Ishim versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $251 – making Ishim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ishim vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,622 per month in Ishim and $1,930 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 Ishim, 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 $36.00 in Ishim and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ishim, where all-in costs run around $1,081, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ishim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ishim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ishim. 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.