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: $98.5 in Kanglung versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $162 in Kanglung versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $226 in Kanglung versus $3,065 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 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 BTN 43.13

$1.89 MX$32.72

-73.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

Eggs

$1.17 BTN 99.2

$2.51 MX$43.34

-53.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.14 BTN 181

$8.34 MX$144

-74.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.26 BTN 191

$8.34 MX$144

-72.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.25 BTN 190

$10.73 MX$186

-79.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 BTN 187

$2.60 MX$45.04

-14.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 BTN 184

$1.46 MX$25.20

49.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 BTN 185

$1.90 MX$32.87

15.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 BTN 97.1

$2.08 MX$35.91

-44.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 BTN 86.9

$1.04 MX$17.99

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 BTN 83.2

$1.08 MX$18.62

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 BTN 120

$1.71 MX$29.61

-16.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 BTN 82.9

$2.58 MX$44.54

-62.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

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

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 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 1216% in total monthly costs ($98.5 vs $1,297 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $148 in Kanglung and $1,945 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 154% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $98.5 per month in Kanglung versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 1216% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $98.5 in Kanglung versus $1,297 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 1216% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.