🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,241 in Kelcyre versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,904 in Kelcyre versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,567 in Kelcyre versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Kelcyre costs roughly 2% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kelcyre9% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.14ALL 804
$11.60MX$200
-12.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5ALL 4,401
$47.11MX$811
17.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.33ALL 898
$11.88MX$205
-4.63%
Cappuccino
$2.45ALL 194
$3.98MX$68.5
-38.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49ALL 197
$1.43MX$24.57
74.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33ALL 105
$0.82MX$14.20
62.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.67ALL 291
$3.19MX$54.9
15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11ALL 326
$6.79MX$117
-39.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25ALL 179
$1.68MX$28.85
33.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22ALL 96.4
$2.20MX$37.83
-44.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41ALL 191
$1.71MX$29.41
40.94%
Eggs
$3.77ALL 299
$2.74MX$47.20
37.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.44ALL 1,065
$9.58MX$165
40.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.40ALL 745
$9.01MX$155
4.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.34ALL 1,374
$12.81MX$221
35.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02ALL 160
$2.89MX$49.74
-30.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59ALL 206
$1.50MX$25.78
72.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24ALL 178
$2.15MX$36.98
4.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96ALL 156
$2.26MX$38.91
-13.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04ALL 82.1
$1.98MX$34.10
-47.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30ALL 103
$1.99MX$34.26
-34.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49ALL 118
$1.23MX$21.25
21.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77ALL 61.2
$1.20MX$20.60
-35.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.78ALL 379
$4.55MX$78.3
5.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.37ALL 901
$10.37MX$179
9.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82ALL 144
$1.62MX$27.88
12.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13ALL 169
$2.88MX$49.60
-26.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 35.85
$0.60MX$10.34
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.56ALL 1,471
$28.80MX$496
-35.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68ALL 292
$5.39MX$92.8
-31.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.68ALL 291
$3.73MX$64.2
-1.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.76ALL 1,487
$5.77MX$99.3
225.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29ALL 182
$1.54MX$26.45
48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KALL 2.7M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
53.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KALL 2.8M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
37.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102ALL 8,068
$91.4MX$1,573
11.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.24ALL 1,525
$25.20MX$434
-23.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.17ALL 1,678
$31.24MX$538
-32.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1ALL 4,445
$67.2MX$1,157
-16.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.03ALL 795
$4.86MX$83.7
106.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349ALL 27.6K
$224MX$3,851
55.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,405ALL 666.1K
$4,229MX$72.8K
98.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3ALL 3,987
$47.10MX$811
6.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.43ALL 3,759
$44.29MX$763
7.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123ALL 9,739
$80.1MX$1,379
53.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117ALL 9,280
$92.7MX$1,596
26.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547ALL 43.3K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-48.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365ALL 28.9K
$390MX$6,719
-6.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$711ALL 56.3K
$2,149MX$37.0K
-66.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$411ALL 32.6K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-67.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,016ALL 159.8K
$4,001MX$68.9K
-49.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,200ALL 95.1K
$6,502MX$112.0K
-81.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kelcyre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.64
11.45
-50.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kelcyre: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Kelcyre and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Kelcyre vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $276 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
Kelcyre vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kelcyre?
Kelcyre is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,861 in Kelcyre and $1,899 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.
What is the rent difference between Kelcyre and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Kelcyre versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kelcyre runs roughly 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $349 in Kelcyre versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kelcyre or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,241 in Kelcyre versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kelcyre but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kelcyre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kelcyre or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Kelcyre is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kelcyre or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Kelcyre 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kelcyre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.