😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Jekabpils versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,890 in Jekabpils versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,484 in Jekabpils versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs are close between Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jekabpils3% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.57€10.91
$11.73MX$205
7.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38€28.09
$41.62MX$727
-22.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47€8.22
$10.64MX$186
-11.00%
Cappuccino
$3.55€3.08
$3.52MX$61.4
0.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.91
$1.51MX$26.37
-30.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98€0.85
$0.97MX$17.00
1.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90€4.25
$2.95MX$51.5
66.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88€5.10
$4.45MX$77.8
32.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.97
$1.38MX$24.16
-19.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.47
$1.89MX$33.03
-10.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97€2.58
$1.64MX$28.59
81.10%
Eggs
$2.36€2.05
$2.51MX$43.76
-5.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.44€8.19
$8.34MX$146
13.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86€5.95
$8.34MX$146
-17.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.71€10.15
$10.73MX$187
9.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27€1.10
$2.60MX$45.47
-51.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.46MX$25.45
32.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06€1.79
$1.90MX$33.19
8.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44€2.99
$2.08MX$36.26
65.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03€0.90
$1.78MX$31.01
-42.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89€0.77
$2.19MX$38.16
-59.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75€1.52
$1.04MX$18.16
68.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.67
$1.08MX$18.80
-28.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.64€4.89
$4.08MX$71.3
38.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94€6.02
$10.32MX$180
-32.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52€1.32
$1.71MX$29.90
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$2.58MX$44.97
-54.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43€1.24
$0.51MX$8.90
180.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.00€32.10
$26.46MX$462
39.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01€0.88
$3.26MX$57.0
-69.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38€0.33
$2.49MX$43.50
-84.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.70€11.89
$3.25MX$56.7
321.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.55
$1.31MX$22.83
35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K€26.2K
$30.3KMX$528.8K
-0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K€27.7K
$23.4KMX$409.2K
36.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$281€244
$82.9MX$1,447
238.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.54€10.01
$22.22MX$388
-48.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.72€14.50
$29.34MX$512
-43.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3€44.48
$51.6MX$902
-0.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.15€12.28
$18.32MX$320
-22.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.68€10.13
$5.07MX$88.5
130.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€472
$201MX$3,507
170.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,132€7,055
$5,212MX$91.0K
56.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€78.9
$36.92MX$645
146.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.20€25.33
$39.79MX$695
-26.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.0€82.4
$78.5MX$1,370
21.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€115
$87.1MX$1,521
52.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$361€313
$973MX$17.0K
-62.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254€221
$468MX$8,168
-45.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738€641
$1,641MX$28.7K
-55.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457€396
$1,221MX$21.3K
-62.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$887€770
$3,946MX$68.9K
-77.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$824€715
$6,498MX$113.5K
-87.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jekabpils
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,031€895
$664MX$11.6K
55.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
11.42
-59.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jekabpils: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Jekabpils and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jekabpils pays 55% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Jekabpils vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $249 per month, with Jekabpils 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
Jekabpils vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Jekabpils or Playa del Carmen?
Jekabpils pays 55% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Jekabpils versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 40% less than in Jekabpils. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Jekabpils pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,297 in Jekabpils, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jekabpils. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Jekabpils or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Jekabpils and Playa del Carmen?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Jekabpils on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.