😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,737 in Keene, NH versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,805 in Keene, NH versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,873 in Keene, NH versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Keene, NH is roughly 111% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Keene, NH is 104% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.95$16.95
$11.73MX$203
44.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3$69.3
$41.62MX$720
66.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.24$11.24
$10.64MX$184
5.64%
Cappuccino
$3.88$3.88
$3.52MX$60.9
10.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$1.51MX$26.12
19.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42$2.42
$0.97MX$16.84
149.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.14$8.14
$2.95MX$51.0
175.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.85$8.85
$4.45MX$77.0
98.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14$1.14
$1.38MX$23.93
-17.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49$3.49
$1.89MX$32.72
84.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.30$6.30
$1.64MX$28.32
284.15%
Eggs
$4.77$4.77
$2.51MX$43.34
90.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.04$17.04
$8.34MX$144
104.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.66$6.66
$8.34MX$144
-20.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.80$11.80
$10.73MX$186
9.97%
Apples(1kg)
$4.06$4.06
$2.60MX$45.04
56.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08$2.08
$1.46MX$25.20
42.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$1.90MX$32.87
243.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$2.08MX$35.91
137.02%
Potato(1kg)
$4.63$4.63
$1.78MX$30.71
160.11%
Onion(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$2.19MX$37.80
65.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74$2.74
$1.04MX$17.99
163.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$1.08MX$18.62
140.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.64$13.64
$4.08MX$70.6
234.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.27$16.27
$10.32MX$178
57.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84$2.84
$1.71MX$29.61
66.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$2.58MX$44.54
-31.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.51MX$8.81
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.62$2.62
$3.26MX$56.4
-19.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36$1.36
$2.49MX$43.09
-45.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.47$27.47
$3.25MX$56.2
745.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.31MX$22.61
-29.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K$30.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
5.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197$197
$82.9MX$1,433
137.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.5$57.5
$22.22MX$384
158.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.5$64.5
$29.34MX$507
119.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.44$36.44
$51.6MX$893
-29.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.10$12.10
$5.07MX$87.6
138.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,768$2,768
$201MX$3,473
1278.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.6K$27.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
429.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.85$39.85
$36.92MX$639
7.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.69$43.69
$39.79MX$688
9.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101$101
$78.5MX$1,357
28.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149$149
$87.1MX$1,506
70.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,819$1,819
$973MX$16.8K
87.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,505$1,505
$468MX$8,090
221.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,655$2,655
$1,641MX$28.4K
61.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,256$2,256
$1,221MX$21.1K
84.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,603$2,603
$3,946MX$68.3K
-34.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,675$2,675
$6,498MX$112.4K
-58.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Keene, NH
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.43
11.42
-43.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Keene, NH: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,819 in Keene, NH and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Keene, NH vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $249 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
Keene, NH vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Keene, NH or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Keene, NH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Keene, NH vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $4,105 in Keene, NH 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Keene, NH vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,819 in Keene, NH versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Keene, NH and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $2,768 in Keene, NH versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Keene, NH vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $69.0 in Keene, NH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Keene, NH or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,737 in Keene, NH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Keene, NH. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Keene, NH or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Keene, NH compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Keene, NH 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Keene, NH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.