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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,848 in Kearney, NE versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,688 in Kearney, NE versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kearney, NE is roughly 56% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kearney, NE is 50% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.16 $15.16

$11.94 MX$208

26.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$42.75 MX$744

38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.63 $11.63

$10.59 MX$184

9.82%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$3.62 MX$63.0

41.71%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$1.47 MX$25.54

46.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.94 MX$16.41

114.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.09 MX$53.8

33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.46 MX$77.6

14.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.43 MX$24.80

-39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.88 MX$32.79

-10.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.63 MX$28.34

123.93%

Eggs

$3.42 $3.42

$2.64 MX$45.99

29.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$8.21 MX$143

10.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$8.29 MX$144

-21.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.42 $15.42

$11.10 MX$193

38.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$2.65 MX$46.14

153.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.50 MX$26.11

43.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$1.99 MX$34.59

193.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.08 MX$36.13

142.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.79 MX$31.11

-1.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.18 MX$37.87

26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.08 MX$18.73

94.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.04 MX$18.04

139.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.32 $9.32

$3.97 MX$69.1

134.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$10.20 MX$178

45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.50 MX$43.46

-20.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.52 MX$9.02

280.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.14 MX$54.7

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.40 MX$41.80

-41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.57 $25.57

$3.09 MX$53.7

727.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.27 MX$22.16

-32.28%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-23.79%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$23.3K MX$405.7K

14.81%

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

$334 $334

$82.0 MX$1,427

307.80%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$22.45 MX$391

133.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$29.66 MX$516

125.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 $54.4

$51.9 MX$903

4.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.16 $6.16

$18.67 MX$325

-67.01%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 $12.72

$4.97 MX$86.5

155.94%

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

$926 $926

$198 MX$3,442

367.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

369.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.98 $29.98

$36.34 MX$632

-17.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.80 $37.80

$40.05 MX$697

-5.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$79.9 MX$1,390

17.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$88.9 MX$1,547

25.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$928 $928

$963 MX$16.8K

-3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 $729

$465 MX$8,086

56.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$1,596 MX$27.8K

62.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 $1,044

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-13.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,516 $1,516

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-61.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,540 $1,540

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-76.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,404 $7,404

$720 MX$12.5K

927.76%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $928 in Kearney, NE and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kearney, NE pays 928% 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: $59.0 in Kearney, NE vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $251 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 56% in total monthly costs ($2,008 vs $1,287 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kearney, NE pays 928% more on average, 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: $928 in Kearney, NE versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,287 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 56% less than in Kearney, NE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.