🙂A single person spends $564 per month in Kairouan vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $893 per month in Kairouan vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Kairouan vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kairouan is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kairouan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan58% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34TND 6.76
$11.94MX$208
-80.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65TND 24.99
$42.75MX$744
-79.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32TND 9.60
$10.59MX$184
-68.65%
Cappuccino
$0.71TND 2.05
$3.62MX$63.0
-80.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.73
$1.47MX$25.54
-59.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14TND 0.41
$0.94MX$16.41
-85.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49TND 4.30
$3.09MX$53.8
-51.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92TND 5.56
$4.46MX$77.6
-56.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.45TND 1.29
$1.43MX$24.80
-68.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07TND 0.20
$1.88MX$32.79
-96.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48TND 4.27
$1.63MX$28.34
-9.20%
Eggs
$1.55TND 4.47
$2.64MX$45.99
-41.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.47TND 33.14
$8.21MX$143
39.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.54TND 16.02
$8.29MX$144
-33.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75TND 33.95
$11.10MX$193
5.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21TND 6.39
$2.65MX$46.14
-16.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24TND 6.47
$1.50MX$26.11
49.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01TND 2.92
$1.99MX$34.59
-49.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$2.08MX$36.13
-64.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.00
$1.79MX$31.11
-61.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.24
$2.18MX$37.87
-64.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48TND 1.38
$1.08MX$18.73
-55.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$1.04MX$18.04
-75.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 9.99
$3.97MX$69.1
-12.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55TND 21.83
$10.20MX$178
-25.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14TND 3.30
$1.73MX$30.04
-34.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.20
$2.50MX$43.46
-55.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32TND 0.93
$0.52MX$9.02
-38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.24TND 29.59
$26.97MX$469
-62.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.90
$3.14MX$54.7
-90.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.96
$2.40MX$41.80
-86.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.62TND 22.01
$3.09MX$53.7
146.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76TND 2.19
$1.27MX$22.16
-40.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KTND 102.1K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
14.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 101.1K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
49.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.52TND 134
$82.0MX$1,427
-43.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71TND 28.06
$22.45MX$391
-56.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99TND 43.32
$29.66MX$516
-49.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.44TND 67.7
$51.9MX$903
-54.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84TND 37.11
$18.67MX$325
-31.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66TND 13.46
$4.97MX$86.5
-6.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110TND 318
$198MX$3,442
-44.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,464TND 7,120
$5,273MX$91.7K
-53.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79TND 68.8
$36.34MX$632
-34.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78TND 127
$40.05MX$697
9.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.30TND 140
$79.9MX$1,390
-39.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6TND 187
$88.9MX$1,547
-27.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116TND 335
$963MX$16.8K
-87.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 385
$465MX$8,086
-71.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377TND 1,089
$1,596MX$27.8K
-76.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269TND 778
$1,209MX$21.0K
-77.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$334TND 965
$720MX$12.5K
-53.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
11.42
19.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kairouan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kairouan 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.
💰Salaries run about 116% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $9.00 in Kairouan versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $251 – making Kairouan 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
Kairouan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $564 in Kairouan, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 128% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $846 per month in Kairouan and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Kairouan and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 163% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kairouan and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Kairouan and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $564, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kairouan and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $564 in Kairouan to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kairouan or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kairouan and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. 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.