Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kailua, HI and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,007 in Kailua, HI versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,853 in Kailua, HI versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,700 in Kailua, HI versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kailua, HI is roughly 209% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kailua, HI is 199% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.04 $21.04

$11.73 MX$203

79.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$41.62 MX$720

143.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 $9.43

$10.64 MX$184

-11.37%

Cappuccino

$6.56 $6.56

$3.52 MX$60.9

86.36%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$1.51 MX$26.12

96.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.97 MX$16.84

102.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$2.95 MX$51.0

165.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.80 $8.80

$4.45 MX$77.0

97.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.38 MX$23.93

47.83%

White Bread (500g)

$6.65 $6.65

$1.89 MX$32.72

251.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.56 $7.56

$1.64 MX$28.32

360.98%

Eggs

$6.86 $6.86

$2.51 MX$43.34

173.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 $13.06

$8.34 MX$144

56.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.01 $18.01

$8.34 MX$144

115.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.52 $19.52

$10.73 MX$186

81.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$2.60 MX$45.04

166.92%

Banana (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.46 MX$25.20

178.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$1.90 MX$32.87

231.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$2.08 MX$35.91

304.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$1.78 MX$30.71

119.66%

Onion (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.19 MX$37.80

105.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.04 MX$17.99

339.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.08 MX$18.62

186.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.08 $12.08

$4.08 MX$70.6

196.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.93 $12.93

$10.32 MX$178

25.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.71 MX$29.61

40.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.58 MX$44.54

-20.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$0.51 MX$8.81

666.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 $89.3

$26.46 MX$458

237.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.26 MX$56.4

5.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.49 MX$43.09

6.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.34 $45.34

$3.25 MX$56.2

1295.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.31 MX$22.61

-2.29%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-2.65%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

5.25%

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

$233 $233

$82.9 MX$1,433

181.11%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$22.22 MX$384

127.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$29.34 MX$507

128.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.6 $70.6

$51.6 MX$893

36.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.80 $40.80

$18.32 MX$317

122.71%

Cinema Ticket

$16.08 $16.08

$5.07 MX$87.6

217.16%

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

$1,529 $1,529

$201 MX$3,473

661.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K $20.2K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

286.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$36.92 MX$639

56.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 $60.0

$39.79 MX$688

50.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$78.5 MX$1,357

32.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$87.1 MX$1,506

48.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$973 MX$16.8K

188.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$468 MX$8,090

400.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,302 $4,302

$1,641 MX$28.4K

162.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,961 $3,961

$1,221 MX$21.1K

224.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.6K $12.6K

$3,946 MX$68.3K

219.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,885 $9,885

$6,498 MX$112.4K

52.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,734 $4,734

$664 MX$11.5K

612.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

11.42

-42.56%

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

Last update for Kailua, HI: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,810 in Kailua, HI and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kailua, HI pays 613% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Kailua, HI vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $577 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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

Kailua, HI vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 209% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kailua, HI pays 613% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,810 in Kailua, HI versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 237% less than in Kailua, HI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,529 in Kailua, HI versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,007 in Kailua, HI, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kailua, HI. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kailua, HI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kailua, HI 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Kailua, HI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.