😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,805 in Kalgoorlie versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,040 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,276 in Kalgoorlie versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Kalgoorlie is roughly 42% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kalgoorlie is 34% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57A$23.41
$11.87MX$204
39.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1A$109
$42.90MX$736
79.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.99A$14.11
$10.65MX$183
-6.20%
Cappuccino
$4.35A$6.14
$3.45MX$59.2
26.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56A$5.03
$1.50MX$25.81
137.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33A$4.71
$0.95MX$16.28
250.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87A$8.30
$3.03MX$51.9
93.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79A$9.60
$4.61MX$79.1
47.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43A$2.02
$1.38MX$23.61
3.62%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19A$4.50
$1.85MX$31.70
72.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98A$2.79
$1.61MX$27.65
22.98%
Eggs
$3.85A$5.43
$2.59MX$44.51
48.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76A$12.38
$8.26MX$142
6.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.54A$12.06
$8.37MX$144
2.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.82A$19.53
$10.66MX$183
29.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34A$4.72
$2.63MX$45.12
27.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$3.97
$1.49MX$25.53
88.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92A$4.12
$1.92MX$32.94
52.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16A$5.87
$2.09MX$35.81
99.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53A$3.57
$1.86MX$31.88
36.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09A$2.95
$2.26MX$38.81
-7.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00A$2.82
$1.06MX$18.23
88.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52A$2.14
$1.09MX$18.67
39.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.33A$42.85
$4.15MX$71.2
630.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.84A$19.55
$10.39MX$178
33.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.61A$6.51
$1.72MX$29.59
168.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33A$7.53
$2.61MX$44.85
104.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61A$3.69
$0.54MX$9.30
383.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.6A$91.3
$26.94MX$462
139.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68A$5.19
$3.13MX$53.7
17.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60A$2.27
$2.51MX$43.09
-36.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.66A$47.55
$3.15MX$54.1
968.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24A$1.75
$1.27MX$21.88
-2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KA$40.8K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-5.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KA$31.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-4.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288A$407
$83.0MX$1,425
247.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0A$72.1
$22.71MX$390
124.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0A$90.4
$29.46MX$506
117.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.06A$49.54
$51.0MX$875
-31.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65A$22.12
$18.33MX$315
-14.62%
Cinema Ticket
$16.25A$22.95
$4.93MX$84.5
229.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,639A$2,316
$197MX$3,386
730.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KA$17.0K
$5,280MX$90.6K
128.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8A$95.7
$36.90MX$633
83.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.67A$70.2
$39.89MX$685
24.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.1A$139
$80.0MX$1,373
22.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106A$149
$89.5MX$1,536
17.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,282A$1,812
$956MX$16.4K
34.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457A$645
$477MX$8,189
-4.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,602A$2,264
$1,646MX$28.3K
-2.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,431A$2,022
$1,225MX$21.0K
16.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,389A$7,614
$3,918MX$67.2K
37.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,972A$7,025
$6,459MX$110.9K
-23.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalgoorlie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,028A$8,517
$667MX$11.4K
803.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kalgoorlie: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,282 in Kalgoorlie and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kalgoorlie pays 804% 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: $77.0 in Kalgoorlie vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $250 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
Kalgoorlie vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalgoorlie or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Kalgoorlie. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kalgoorlie or Playa del Carmen?
Kalgoorlie pays 804% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kalgoorlie vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,282 in Kalgoorlie versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Kalgoorlie vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 140% less than in Kalgoorlie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalgoorlie and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,639 in Kalgoorlie versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kalgoorlie or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,805 in Kalgoorlie, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kalgoorlie. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalgoorlie or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Kalgoorlie compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Kalgoorlie 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Kalgoorlie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kalgoorlie vs other spots: cost of living compared