Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,733 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,006 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,279 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kansas City, KS costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kansas City, KS sits 103% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$11.61 MX$201

75.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 $65.5

$42.75 MX$742

53.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 $11.88

$10.60 MX$184

12.08%

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$3.59 MX$62.3

38.44%

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

$2.40 $2.40

$1.45 MX$25.21

65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$0.90 MX$15.58

114.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$3.03 MX$52.6

62.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$4.56 MX$79.2

55.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.45 MX$25.20

-30.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.83 MX$31.72

95.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$1.61 MX$27.92

217.39%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$2.54 MX$44.05

72.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 $11.03

$8.54 MX$148

29.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$8.47 MX$147

28.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$10.86 MX$189

21.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.73 MX$47.37

97.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.49 MX$25.91

36.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$1.94 MX$33.73

246.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$2.16 MX$37.57

174.07%

Potato (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$1.85 MX$32.05

123.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.19 MX$38.00

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.07 MX$18.62

106.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.08 MX$18.81

107.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$4.06 MX$70.5

148.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.52 $18.52

$10.46 MX$182

77.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.65 MX$28.71

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 $5.41

$2.55 MX$44.23

112.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.56 MX$9.65

166.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 $55.4

$26.20 MX$455

111.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.14 MX$54.5

54.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.37 MX$41.17

-34.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.21 $41.21

$3.24 MX$56.2

1171.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.31 MX$22.81

-37.40%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$30.5K MX$530.2K

-2.15%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$23.8K MX$413.6K

6.36%

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

$190 $190

$83.1 MX$1,443

128.65%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$22.15 MX$385

147.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.8 $52.8

$29.37 MX$510

79.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$114 $114

$51.2 MX$889

123.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.0 $64.0

$18.69 MX$324

242.27%

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$4.89 MX$84.9

205.52%

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

$1,096 $1,096

$199 MX$3,449

451.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$5,207 MX$90.4K

462.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.62 $48.62

$35.93 MX$624

35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.37 $34.37

$39.39 MX$684

-12.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$80.3 MX$1,394

13.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$87.6 MX$1,520

42.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 $1,354

$963 MX$16.7K

40.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$482 MX$8,370

172.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,386 $3,386

$1,645 MX$28.6K

105.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,159 $2,159

$1,192 MX$20.7K

81.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,208 $2,208

$3,957 MX$68.7K

-44.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,248 $2,248

$6,513 MX$113.1K

-65.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,161 $3,161

$726 MX$12.6K

335.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

11.42

-42.73%

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

Last update for Kansas City, KS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,354 in Kansas City, KS 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 335% higher in Kansas City, KS, 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 $65 in Kansas City, KS versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 vs $253 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Kansas City, KS vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas City, KS costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,099 per month in Kansas City, KS and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,096 per month in Kansas City, KS and $199 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 66% more in Kansas City, KS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Kansas City, KS at $2,733. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kansas City, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $2,733 in Kansas City, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kansas City, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.