😐A single person spends $1,398 per month in Kayfan vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Kayfan vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Kayfan vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Kayfan costs about 8% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Kayfan sits 4% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.86KWD 3.03
$11.73MX$203
-15.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6KWD 25.03
$41.62MX$720
96.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.81KWD 2.70
$10.64MX$184
-17.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40KWD 0.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74KWD 1.15
-
-
Cappuccino
$6.00KWD 1.84
$3.52MX$60.9
70.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69KWD 0.21
$1.51MX$26.12
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34KWD 0.11
$0.97MX$16.84
-64.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.95MX$51.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.45MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62KWD 0.50
$1.38MX$23.93
17.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30KWD 0.40
$1.89MX$32.72
-31.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78KWD 0.55
$1.64MX$28.32
8.54%
Eggs
$2.06KWD 0.63
$2.51MX$43.34
-17.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.26KWD 1.61
$8.34MX$144
-36.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45KWD 1.98
$8.34MX$144
-22.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.39KWD 3.19
$10.73MX$186
-3.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45KWD 0.75
$2.60MX$45.04
-5.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94KWD 0.60
$1.46MX$25.20
32.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74KWD 0.53
$1.90MX$32.87
-8.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43KWD 0.44
$2.08MX$35.91
-31.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24KWD 0.38
$1.78MX$30.71
-30.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26KWD 0.39
$2.19MX$37.80
-42.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68KWD 0.52
$1.04MX$17.99
61.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45KWD 0.14
$1.08MX$18.62
-58.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.32KWD 1.02
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91KWD 0.89
$4.08MX$70.6
-28.68%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.61
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58MX$44.54
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88KWD 0.27
$0.51MX$8.81
72.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.51KWD 13.65
$26.46MX$458
68.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.36KWD 1.03
$3.26MX$56.4
3.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.30KWD 1.01
$2.49MX$43.09
32.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.44KWD 5.04
$3.25MX$56.2
405.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33KWD 0.10
$1.31MX$22.61
-74.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KKWD 6,643
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-28.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0KKWD 6,141
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-14.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.8KWD 18.94
$82.9MX$1,433
-25.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.22KWD 5.59
$22.22MX$384
-18.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.87KWD 7.93
$29.34MX$507
-11.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.8KWD 29.07
$51.6MX$893
83.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.77KWD 14.04
$18.32MX$317
149.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41KWD 3.50
$5.07MX$87.6
125.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$403KWD 124
$201MX$3,473
100.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,524KWD 2,001
$5,212MX$90.1K
25.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.50KWD 12.73
$36.92MX$639
12.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.28KWD 13.28
$39.79MX$688
8.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1KWD 26.72
$78.5MX$1,357
11.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3KWD 25.53
$87.1MX$1,506
-4.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$780KWD 239
$973MX$16.8K
-19.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619KWD 190
$468MX$8,090
32.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591KWD 488
$1,641MX$28.4K
-3.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301KWD 399
$1,221MX$21.1K
6.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kayfan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,117KWD 1,263
$664MX$11.5K
520.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
11.42
-37.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kayfan: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $780 in Kayfan versus $973 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 520% higher in Kayfan, 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 $82.0 in Kayfan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Kayfan vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Kayfan 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
Kayfan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kayfan or Playa del Carmen?
Kayfan costs about 8% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kayfan vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,096 per month in Kayfan and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kayfan or Playa del Carmen?
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.
How expensive is transport in Kayfan vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Kayfan and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $403 per month in Kayfan and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kayfan or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Kayfan at $1,398. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kayfan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kayfan or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,398 in Kayfan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kayfan or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kayfan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.