🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Kempton Park versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Kempton Park versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,126 in Kempton Park versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Kempton Park costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kempton Park25% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44R 140
$11.99MX$210
-29.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.39R 553
$41.78MX$733
-20.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78R 79.2
$10.75MX$189
-55.53%
Cappuccino
$2.23R 36.99
$3.50MX$61.3
-36.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R 16.53
$1.45MX$25.41
-31.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77R 12.76
$0.88MX$15.52
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30R 38.01
$2.95MX$51.7
-22.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45R 40.63
$4.51MX$79.1
-45.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21R 19.99
$1.43MX$25.12
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01R 16.73
$1.84MX$32.23
-45.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71R 28.29
$1.57MX$27.51
8.92%
Eggs
$2.39R 39.50
$2.51MX$44.06
-4.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.91R 131
$8.28MX$145
-4.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.67R 77.3
$8.43MX$148
-44.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.89R 114
$10.68MX$187
-35.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63R 26.96
$2.61MX$45.76
-37.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61R 26.70
$1.44MX$25.22
11.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61R 26.68
$1.96MX$34.41
-17.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64R 27.13
$2.09MX$36.74
-21.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45R 24.08
$1.85MX$32.47
-21.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43R 23.75
$2.17MX$38.02
-34.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09R 18.00
$1.03MX$18.09
5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16R 19.13
$1.07MX$18.84
8.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03R 50.1
$4.10MX$72.0
-26.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.36R 88.8
$10.17MX$178
-47.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58R 26.09
$1.68MX$29.38
-5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86R 30.76
$2.53MX$44.31
-26.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38R 22.80
$0.51MX$8.93
170.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.5R 919
$26.04MX$457
113.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15R 18.99
$3.23MX$56.7
-64.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95R 15.76
$2.41MX$42.19
-60.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.09R 67.7
$3.23MX$56.6
26.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 21.17
$1.32MX$23.17
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KR 368.3K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-25.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KR 392.5K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
0.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126R 2,083
$82.0MX$1,439
53.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.93R 678
$22.95MX$403
78.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.73R 707
$30.11MX$528
41.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89R 429
$52.0MX$912
-50.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.56R 92.0
$18.53MX$325
-69.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50R 124
$4.98MX$87.3
50.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$210R 3,483
$197MX$3,463
6.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,418R 73.1K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-17.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0R 845
$35.60MX$624
43.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.83R 544
$40.33MX$707
-18.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7R 1,468
$78.8MX$1,381
12.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9R 1,323
$88.9MX$1,560
-10.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280R 4,640
$947MX$16.6K
-70.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261R 4,326
$474MX$8,314
-44.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$678R 11.2K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-58.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$570R 9,436
$1,211MX$21.2K
-52.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$717R 11.9K
$4,056MX$71.1K
-82.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$777R 12.9K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-87.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kempton Park
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$636R 10.5K
$654MX$11.5K
-2.79%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Kempton Park and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 3% 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: $33.00 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 25% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Kempton Park versus $947 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 in 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $33.00 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,006 in Kempton Park versus $1,256 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 $1,006 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 25% 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