Cost of Living Comparison Between Kelachay and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kelachay and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $519 per month in Kelachay vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $827 per month in Kelachay vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Kelachay vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kelachay is about 60% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kelachay and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kelachay 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 $3.94

$11.73 MX$203

-66.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.93 $16.93

$41.62 MX$719

-59.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 $4.58

$10.64 MX$184

-56.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 $0.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cappuccino

$1.12 $1.12

$3.52 MX$60.8

-68.18%

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

$0.46 $0.46

$1.51 MX$26.09

-69.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.97 MX$16.82

5.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$1.38 MX$23.90

-57.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 $0.56

$1.89 MX$32.69

-70.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.64 MX$28.29

12.20%

Eggs

$1.19 $1.19

$2.51 MX$43.30

-52.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$8.34 MX$144

-59.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$8.34 MX$144

-61.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$10.73 MX$185

-5.68%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$2.60 MX$45.00

-65.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.46 MX$25.18

-6.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.90 MX$32.84

-54.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 $0.59

$2.08 MX$35.88

-71.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.78 MX$30.68

-71.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 $0.46

$2.19 MX$37.76

-79.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 $0.55

$1.04 MX$17.97

-47.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$1.08 MX$18.60

-76.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.57 $0.57

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 $0.47

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 $1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 $2.25

$4.08 MX$70.5

-44.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 $0.20

$0.51 MX$8.81

-60.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.85 $9.85

$26.46 MX$457

-62.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.36 $0.36

$3.26 MX$56.4

-88.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 $0.27

$2.49 MX$43.05

-89.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.25 MX$56.1

-39.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.31 MX$22.59

-41.22%

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

$73.3K $73.3K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

141.97%

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

$53.9K $53.9K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

130.01%

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

$15.99 $15.99

$82.9 MX$1,432

-80.70%

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

$2.09 $2.09

$22.22 MX$384

-90.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.90 $5.90

$29.34 MX$507

-79.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.03 $16.03

$51.6 MX$892

-68.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.62 $12.62

$18.32 MX$317

-31.11%

Cinema Ticket

$1.52 $1.52

$5.07 MX$87.5

-70.02%

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

$118 $118

$201 MX$3,470

-41.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,936 $1,936

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-62.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.54 $22.54

$36.92 MX$638

-38.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.35 $25.35

$39.79 MX$688

-36.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$78.5 MX$1,356

37.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 $71.2

$87.1 MX$1,505

-18.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 $287

$973 MX$16.8K

-70.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 $203

$468 MX$8,082

-56.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 $642

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-60.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 $324

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-73.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,312 $1,312

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-66.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$606 $606

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-90.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

11.42

94.75%

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

Last update for Kelachay: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Kelachay 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Kelachay versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $107 vs $249 – making Kelachay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kelachay vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 150%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $779 per month in Kelachay and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kelachay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 169% less in Kelachay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Kelachay and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kelachay, where all-in costs run around $519, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Kelachay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kelachay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kelachay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.