🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Jieyang versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Jieyang versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,419 in Jieyang versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Jieyang costs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jieyang50% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96¥13.27
$11.95MX$208
-83.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.00¥81.2
$41.94MX$730
-71.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.50¥23.67
$10.42MX$181
-66.41%
Cappuccino
$2.81¥19.04
$3.51MX$61.2
-19.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.96
$1.52MX$26.39
-71.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.95
$0.91MX$15.85
-68.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85¥5.76
$3.04MX$52.9
-72.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66¥11.22
$4.37MX$76.1
-62.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42¥9.58
$1.42MX$24.73
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.16¥14.62
$1.83MX$31.87
18.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82¥5.54
$1.63MX$28.45
-49.69%
Eggs
$0.82¥5.53
$2.54MX$44.20
-67.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28¥76.3
$8.57MX$149
31.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.37¥16.04
$8.49MX$148
-72.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.60¥71.7
$10.80MX$188
-1.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.34
$2.75MX$47.95
-33.82%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64¥4.32
$1.44MX$25.00
-55.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94¥6.36
$1.89MX$32.84
-50.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85¥12.49
$2.17MX$37.77
-14.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92¥6.21
$1.78MX$30.97
-48.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66¥11.21
$2.22MX$38.71
-25.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40¥2.73
$1.07MX$18.60
-62.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.74
$1.08MX$18.79
-49.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76¥18.65
$4.15MX$72.2
-33.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.00¥74.4
$10.45MX$182
5.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74¥5.03
$1.74MX$30.34
-57.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65¥11.14
$2.58MX$44.93
-36.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.98
$0.51MX$8.94
-43.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.81¥114
$25.94MX$452
-35.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88¥5.93
$3.21MX$55.9
-72.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.15¥1.02
$2.50MX$43.55
-94.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.87¥46.48
$3.19MX$55.4
115.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93¥6.31
$1.26MX$21.87
-26.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.0K¥80.9K
$29.7KMX$516.7K
-59.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$10.5K¥71.3K
$23.7KMX$412.2K
-55.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.57¥261
$82.0MX$1,428
-52.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.91¥67.0
$22.73MX$396
-56.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.54¥78.1
$29.42MX$512
-60.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.90¥283
$52.2MX$908
-19.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.70¥92.7
$18.45MX$321
-25.75%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47¥37.02
$4.93MX$85.9
10.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$450¥3,044
$202MX$3,512
122.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6K¥112.4K
$5,217MX$90.8K
218.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.19¥130
$35.93MX$625
-46.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.10¥183
$40.33MX$702
-32.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.3¥381
$79.9MX$1,390
-29.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0¥548
$89.3MX$1,554
-9.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283¥1,912
$948MX$16.5K
-70.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190¥1,288
$465MX$8,098
-59.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589¥3,987
$1,630MX$28.4K
-63.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357¥2,413
$1,193MX$20.8K
-70.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,109¥21.0K
$3,933MX$68.5K
-20.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,926¥13.0K
$6,428MX$111.9K
-70.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jieyang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,081¥7,313
$658MX$11.5K
64.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
11.42
-68.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jieyang: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Jieyang and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jieyang pays 64% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Jieyang vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $252 per month, with Jieyang 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
Jieyang vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jieyang or Playa del Carmen?
Jieyang wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jieyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jieyang or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 64% higher in Jieyang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jieyang compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Jieyang versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Jieyang compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $663 per month in Jieyang versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Jieyang compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 54% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jieyang or in Playa del Carmen?
At $663 in Jieyang versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jieyang or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Jieyang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $663 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Jieyang hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.