Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kearney, NE and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,008 in Kearney, NE versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,796 in Kearney, NE versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,584 in Kearney, NE versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kearney, NE is roughly 59% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kearney, NE is 51% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 $14.88

$11.72 MX$204

26.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 $60.9

$41.89 MX$731

45.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.28 $11.28

$10.51 MX$183

7.33%

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$3.59 MX$62.5

47.35%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$1.51 MX$26.31

45.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.92 MX$15.96

118.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.94 $3.94

$2.96 MX$51.6

33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.41 MX$76.9

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.40 MX$24.35

-42.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.88 MX$32.87

-13.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.56 MX$27.19

142.31%

Eggs

$3.45 $3.45

$2.61 MX$45.50

32.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 $8.71

$8.32 MX$145

4.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$8.35 MX$146

-20.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$10.86 MX$189

44.11%

Apples (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

$2.71 MX$47.31

149.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.51 MX$26.25

45.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$1.87 MX$32.67

213.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.19 MX$38.19

121.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.86 MX$32.40

-2.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.23 MX$38.90

21.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.07 MX$18.63

85.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.09 MX$18.94

123.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.58 $9.58

$4.19 MX$73.0

128.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.43 MX$182

42.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.66 MX$28.91

9.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.61 MX$45.56

-24.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.54 MX$9.45

279.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$456

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.08 MX$53.7

-0.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.40 MX$41.94

-42.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.60 $25.60

$3.13 MX$54.5

717.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.31 MX$22.87

-34.35%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-20.62%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$23.3K MX$406.8K

12.01%

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

$327 $327

$81.3 MX$1,418

302.03%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$22.56 MX$393

135.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$30.05 MX$524

120.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.4 $55.4

$52.9 MX$923

4.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 $5.92

$18.39 MX$321

-67.81%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 $12.55

$4.92 MX$85.8

155.08%

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

$932 $932

$201 MX$3,502

364.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

376.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.98 $29.98

$35.92 MX$627

-16.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.05 $38.05

$40.13 MX$700

-5.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 $96.8

$79.7 MX$1,390

21.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$86.5 MX$1,508

29.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$914 $914

$978 MX$17.1K

-6.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$736 $736

$470 MX$8,206

56.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,619 $2,619

$1,651 MX$28.8K

58.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 $1,041

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-13.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,506 $1,506

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-61.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,554 $1,554

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-76.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,584 $7,584

$677 MX$11.8K

1020.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

11.42

-43.08%

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

Last update for Kearney, NE: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $914 in Kearney, NE and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 1021% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Kearney, NE vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $252 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Kearney, NE vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kearney, NE and Playa del Carmen differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,008 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1021% higher in Kearney, NE, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $914 in Kearney, NE versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Kearney, NE. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,008 per month in Kearney, NE versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,008 in Kearney, NE, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kearney, NE. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen 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.

Safety-wise, Kearney, NE and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Kearney, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.