😐A single person spends $1,505 per month in Johvi vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,269 per month in Johvi vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,033 per month in Johvi vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Johvi costs about 18% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Johvi sits 12% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.12€13.89
$11.87MX$204
35.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.1€74.2
$42.90MX$736
100.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38€9.80
$10.65MX$183
6.85%
Cappuccino
$4.38€3.77
$3.45MX$59.2
26.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.47
$1.50MX$25.81
90.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.12
$0.95MX$16.28
158.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.40€5.52
$3.03MX$51.9
111.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.70€5.78
$4.61MX$79.1
45.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$1.38MX$23.61
-9.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.28
$1.85MX$31.70
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97€2.55
$1.61MX$27.65
84.47%
Eggs
$2.97€2.56
$2.59MX$44.51
14.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37€11.52
$8.26MX$142
61.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.21
$8.37MX$144
13.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.66€20.38
$10.66MX$183
121.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$2.63MX$45.12
-11.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54€1.33
$1.49MX$25.53
3.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$1.92MX$32.94
39.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71€3.19
$2.09MX$35.81
77.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40€1.20
$1.86MX$31.88
-24.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00€0.86
$2.26MX$38.81
-55.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.69
$1.06MX$18.23
84.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.94
$1.09MX$18.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.15MX$71.2
63.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.71€9.23
$10.39MX$178
3.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.65
$1.72MX$29.59
11.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.22
$2.61MX$44.85
-1.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19€1.02
$0.54MX$9.30
120.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.41€3.80
$3.13MX$53.7
40.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.72
$2.51MX$43.09
-66.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.03€14.68
$3.15MX$54.1
440.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.70
$1.27MX$21.88
55.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K€27.7K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
6.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K€29.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
42.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$351€302
$83.0MX$1,425
322.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.10€17.32
$22.71MX$390
-11.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.81€30.85
$29.46MX$506
21.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.74€19.59
$51.0MX$875
-55.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.11€12.16
$4.93MX$84.5
186.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$265€229
$197MX$3,386
34.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,788€6,711
$5,280MX$90.6K
47.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115€99.2
$36.90MX$633
211.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.32€40.77
$39.89MX$685
18.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.8
$80.0MX$1,373
31.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€120
$89.5MX$1,536
55.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$401€346
$956MX$16.4K
-58.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231€199
$477MX$8,189
-51.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470€405
$1,646MX$28.3K
-71.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290€250
$1,225MX$21.0K
-76.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johvi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,361€1,173
$667MX$11.4K
104.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.1
11.42
-55.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Johvi: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $401 in Johvi versus $956 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.
💰Salaries run about 104% higher in Johvi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Johvi versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Johvi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Johvi?
Yes – Johvi is pricier by about 18%, 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 $2,257 per month in Johvi and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Johvi or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Johvi and $43.00 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 Johvi and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Johvi, 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 Johvi or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Johvi at $1,505. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johvi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Johvi or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Johvi or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johvi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.