🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Khemisset versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Khemisset versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,428 in Khemisset versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Khemisset costs roughly 42% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Khemisset45% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96MAD 18.13
$11.87MX$204
-83.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.68MAD 154
$42.90MX$736
-61.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14MAD 66.1
$10.65MX$183
-32.96%
Cappuccino
$0.96MAD 8.89
$3.45MX$59.2
-72.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MAD 3.63
$1.50MX$25.81
-74.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23MAD 2.14
$0.95MX$16.28
-75.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94MAD 36.43
$3.03MX$51.9
30.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37MAD 31.20
$4.61MX$79.1
-26.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.57MAD 5.29
$1.38MX$23.61
-58.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MAD 3.91
$1.85MX$31.70
-77.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MAD 13.86
$1.61MX$27.65
-6.83%
Eggs
$2.01MAD 18.59
$2.59MX$44.51
-22.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.10MAD 93.4
$8.26MX$142
22.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06MAD 65.3
$8.37MX$144
-15.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.87MAD 82.1
$10.66MX$183
-16.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06MAD 9.83
$2.63MX$45.12
-59.70%
Banana(1kg)
$0.89MAD 8.23
$1.49MX$25.53
-40.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.31
$1.92MX$32.94
-64.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.46MAD 4.22
$2.09MX$35.81
-77.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.99
$1.86MX$31.88
-65.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63MAD 5.85
$2.26MX$38.81
-72.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50MAD 4.65
$1.06MX$18.23
-52.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.60
$1.09MX$18.67
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.42MAD 40.85
$4.15MX$71.2
6.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.98MAD 92.3
$10.39MX$178
-3.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19MAD 29.48
$1.72MX$29.59
85.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23MAD 29.87
$2.61MX$44.85
23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.35
$0.54MX$9.30
-12.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.30MAD 151
$26.94MX$462
-39.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56MAD 5.22
$3.13MX$53.7
-82.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.44
$2.51MX$43.09
-80.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.35MAD 40.26
$3.15MX$54.1
38.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.73
$1.27MX$21.88
25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KMAD 345.5K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
22.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMAD 220.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
1.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2MAD 760
$83.0MX$1,425
-0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43MAD 59.5
$22.71MX$390
-71.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.14MAD 362
$29.46MX$506
32.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.67MAD 126
$51.0MX$875
-73.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.14MAD 214
$18.33MX$315
26.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46MAD 69.0
$4.93MX$84.5
51.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.9MAD 896
$197MX$3,386
-50.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,537MAD 60.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
23.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.56MAD 292
$36.90MX$633
-14.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.01MAD 426
$39.89MX$685
15.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8MAD 821
$80.0MX$1,373
10.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3MAD 752
$89.5MX$1,536
-9.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284MAD 2,628
$956MX$16.4K
-70.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,631
$477MX$8,189
-63.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499MAD 4,617
$1,646MX$28.3K
-69.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307MAD 2,836
$1,225MX$21.0K
-74.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,567MAD 14.5K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-60.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$938MAD 8,674
$6,459MX$110.9K
-85.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khemisset
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$397MAD 3,668
$667MX$11.4K
-40.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
11.42
-61.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khemisset: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Khemisset and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 68% 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: $17.00 in Khemisset vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $250 per month, with Khemisset 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
Khemisset vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Khemisset and Playa del Carmen?
Khemisset and Playa del Carmen differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($733 vs $1,271 including rent). Khemisset is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 68% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Khemisset and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Khemisset versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Khemisset – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Khemisset or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $733 per month in Khemisset versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $733 in Khemisset versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Khemisset but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khemisset the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Khemisset 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 Khemisset or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Khemisset 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: Khemisset or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Khemisset gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.