🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Kempton Park versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Kempton Park versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,176 in Kempton Park versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Kempton Park costs roughly 22% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kempton Park24% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.45R 137
$11.73MX$203
-27.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.87R 550
$41.62MX$720
-18.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.93R 80.1
$10.64MX$184
-53.67%
Cappuccino
$2.19R 35.61
$3.52MX$60.9
-37.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.16
$1.51MX$26.12
-34.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80R 13.03
$0.97MX$16.84
-17.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26R 36.68
$2.95MX$51.0
-23.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49R 40.43
$4.45MX$77.0
-44.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.34
$1.38MX$23.93
-9.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.62
$1.89MX$32.72
-46.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70R 27.67
$1.64MX$28.32
3.66%
Eggs
$2.46R 39.97
$2.51MX$43.34
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.61R 124
$8.34MX$144
-8.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83R 78.5
$8.34MX$144
-42.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.64R 108
$10.73MX$186
-38.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68R 27.32
$2.60MX$45.04
-35.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59R 25.85
$1.46MX$25.20
8.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65R 26.85
$1.90MX$32.87
-13.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63R 26.57
$2.08MX$35.91
-21.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51R 24.57
$1.78MX$30.71
-15.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39R 22.62
$2.19MX$37.80
-36.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08R 17.56
$1.04MX$17.99
3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16R 18.91
$1.08MX$18.62
7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96R 48.04
$4.08MX$70.6
-27.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.53R 89.9
$10.32MX$178
-46.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52R 24.66
$1.71MX$29.61
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79R 29.08
$2.58MX$44.54
-30.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43R 23.20
$0.51MX$8.81
180.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.8R 923
$26.46MX$458
114.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R 18.56
$3.26MX$56.4
-65.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89R 14.42
$2.49MX$43.09
-64.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.05R 65.8
$3.25MX$56.2
24.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30R 21.18
$1.31MX$22.61
-0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KR 357.3K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-27.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KR 382.9K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
0.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125R 2,030
$82.9MX$1,433
50.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.27R 654
$22.22MX$384
81.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.93R 698
$29.34MX$507
46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.58R 416
$51.6MX$893
-50.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73R 93.1
$18.32MX$317
-68.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39R 120
$5.07MX$87.6
45.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209R 3,391
$201MX$3,473
3.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,361R 70.9K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-16.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0R 829
$36.92MX$639
38.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.41R 527
$39.79MX$688
-18.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.2R 1,400
$78.5MX$1,357
9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3R 1,289
$87.1MX$1,506
-8.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282R 4,577
$973MX$16.8K
-71.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$260R 4,218
$468MX$8,090
-44.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683R 11.1K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-58.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570R 9,257
$1,221MX$21.1K
-53.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$877R 14.2K
$3,946MX$68.3K
-77.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$667R 10.8K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-89.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639R 10.4K
$664MX$11.5K
-3.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
11.42
0.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kempton Park: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Kempton Park and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 4% 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: $34.00 in Kempton Park vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $249 per month, with Kempton Park 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
Kempton Park vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kempton Park or Playa del Carmen?
Kempton Park wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kempton Park the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kempton Park or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kempton Park vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Kempton Park versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Kempton Park or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Kempton Park vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kempton Park or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,017 in Kempton Park versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kempton Park or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kempton Park delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kempton Park hard to pass up.
How safe is Kempton Park compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kempton Park vs other spots: cost of living compared