Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Kandana vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $859 per month in Kandana vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,201 per month in Kandana vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kandana is about 59% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kandana and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kandana 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,334

$11.72 MX$203

-66.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 LKR 8,399

$41.89 MX$725

-40.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 LKR 2,781

$10.51 MX$182

-21.12%

Cappuccino

$2.70 LKR 907

$3.59 MX$62.0

-24.79%

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

$0.70 LKR 233

$1.51 MX$26.10

-53.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.92 MX$15.83

-56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 765

$2.96 MX$51.2

-22.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,146

$4.41 MX$76.3

-22.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 580

$1.40 MX$24.16

23.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.88 MX$32.60

-70.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 278

$1.56 MX$26.97

-46.79%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 707

$2.61 MX$45.14

-19.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.95 LKR 4,681

$8.32 MX$144

67.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,538

$8.35 MX$145

-45.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,734

$10.86 MX$188

-24.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,481

$2.71 MX$46.93

172.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.51 MX$26.04

-26.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.95 LKR 1,998

$1.87 MX$32.41

218.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 405

$2.19 MX$37.89

-44.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.86 MX$32.14

-37.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 459

$2.23 MX$38.59

-38.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 387

$1.07 MX$18.48

7.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.09 MX$18.79

-48.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,335

$4.19 MX$72.4

137.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 LKR 4,237

$10.43 MX$180

21.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 676

$1.66 MX$28.68

21.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 960

$2.61 MX$45.19

9.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$3.08 MX$53.3

-87.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$2.40 MX$41.61

-86.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$3.13 MX$54.1

-80.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.31 MX$22.69

-4.58%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-8.82%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.7M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

49.09%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$81.3 MX$1,406

-26.57%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,441

$22.56 MX$390

-80.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.35 LKR 5,150

$30.05 MX$520

-48.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,133

$4.92 MX$85.1

-31.30%

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

$37.44 LKR 12.6K

$201 MX$3,474

-81.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.9K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-91.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.86 LKR 9,350

$35.92 MX$622

-22.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.04 LKR 6,390

$40.13 MX$694

-52.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 LKR 22.9K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-14.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.30 LKR 12.9K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-55.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

11.42

44.05%

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

Last update for Kandana: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kandana versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $256 in Kandana vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kandana vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 144%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $776 per month in Kandana and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $517 in Kandana and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.44 per month in Kandana and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kandana, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Kandana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kandana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kandana. 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.