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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $97.7 in Kanglung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $161 in Kanglung versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $224 in Kanglung versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kanglung costs roughly 92% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kanglung 93% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

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

$1.45 MX$25.41

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 BTN 41.12

$1.84 MX$32.23

-73.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

Eggs

$1.19 BTN 100

$2.51 MX$44.06

-52.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.23 BTN 189

$8.28 MX$145

-73.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 BTN 191

$8.43 MX$148

-73.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.15 BTN 182

$10.68 MX$187

-79.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 BTN 188

$2.61 MX$45.76

-14.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 BTN 191

$1.44 MX$25.22

56.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 BTN 191

$1.96 MX$34.41

15.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 BTN 102

$2.09 MX$36.74

-42.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 BTN 85.9

$1.03 MX$18.09

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 BTN 82.5

$1.07 MX$18.84

-8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 BTN 124

$1.68 MX$29.38

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 BTN 82.5

$2.53 MX$44.31

-61.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Kanglung: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

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

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

Kanglung and Playa del Carmen differ by about 1185% in total monthly costs ($97.7 vs $1,256 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $147 in Kanglung and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 151% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $97.7 per month in Kanglung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 1185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $97.7 in Kanglung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kanglung but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kanglung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kanglung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1185% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.