Cost of Living Comparison Between Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,168 in Kefar Sava versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,276 in Kefar Sava versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,383 in Kefar Sava versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Kefar Sava is roughly 71% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kefar Sava is 61% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.41 ₪65.4
$11.87 MX$204
88.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1 ₪181
$42.90 MX$736
44.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.87 ₪46.27
$10.65 MX$183
49.01%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₪11.33
$3.45 MX$59.2
12.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 ₪7.06
$1.50 MX$25.81
61.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 ₪6.31
$0.95 MX$16.28
127.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.19 ₪26.79
$3.03 MX$51.9
203.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.62 ₪22.21
$4.61 MX$79.1
65.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ₪4.86
$1.38 MX$23.61
21.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 ₪5.24
$1.85 MX$31.70
-2.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 ₪7.28
$1.61 MX$27.65
55.28%
Eggs
$3.81 ₪11.11
$2.59 MX$44.51
47.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 ₪26.99
$8.26 MX$142
12.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.59 ₪27.97
$8.37 MX$144
14.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 ₪42.59
$10.66 MX$183
37.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 ₪9.09
$2.63 MX$45.12
18.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 ₪7.08
$1.49 MX$25.53
63.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 ₪5.99
$1.92 MX$32.94
7.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 ₪5.73
$2.09 MX$35.81
-5.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ₪3.80
$1.86 MX$31.88
-30.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 ₪4.48
$2.26 MX$38.81
-31.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 ₪5.47
$1.06 MX$18.23
76.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₪2.65
$1.09 MX$18.67
-16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.36 ₪30.21
$4.15 MX$71.2
149.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.73 ₪45.86
$10.39 MX$178
51.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 ₪7.55
$1.72 MX$29.59
50.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ₪8.81
$2.61 MX$44.85
15.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 ₪4.83
$0.54 MX$9.30
205.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.98 ₪134
$26.94 MX$462
70.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ₪11.13
$3.13 MX$53.7
22.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 ₪2.52
$2.51 MX$43.09
-65.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.01 ₪93.3
$3.15 MX$54.1
916.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 ₪5.99
$1.27 MX$21.88
61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8K ₪116.0K
$30.4K MX$521.3K
30.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5K ₪123.9K
$23.6K MX$404.5K
80.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$322 ₪940
$83.0 MX$1,425
288.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.00 ₪35.00
$22.71 MX$390
-47.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.29 ₪85.4
$29.46 MX$506
-0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.9 ₪192
$51.0 MX$875
29.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.36 ₪71.0
$18.33 MX$315
32.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.59 ₪36.71
$4.93 MX$84.5
155.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,027 ₪2,993
$197 MX$3,386
420.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K ₪35.1K
$5,280 MX$90.6K
127.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₪165
$36.90 MX$633
53.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.49 ₪141
$39.89 MX$685
21.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₪378
$80.0 MX$1,373
62.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9 ₪265
$89.5 MX$1,536
1.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$937 ₪2,733
$956 MX$16.4K
-1.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$822 ₪2,397
$477 MX$8,189
72.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,830 ₪5,336
$1,646 MX$28.3K
11.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 ₪4,652
$1,225 MX$21.0K
30.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,650 ₪25.2K
$3,918 MX$67.2K
120.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,015 ₪20.5K
$6,459 MX$110.9K
8.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kefar Sava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$667 MX$11.4K
-
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 Kefar Sava: June 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $937 in Kefar Sava and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Kefar Sava vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $250 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
Kefar Sava vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen?
Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($2,168 vs $1,271 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Kefar Sava compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,253 in Kefar Sava and $1,906 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 do apartment prices compare in Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $937 in Kefar Sava versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kefar Sava or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,168 per month in Kefar Sava versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 71% less than in Kefar Sava. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,168 in Kefar Sava, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kefar Sava. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kefar Sava and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Is Kefar Sava or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kefar Sava 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.
Where should expats move: Kefar Sava or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Kefar Sava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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