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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in Khost versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $595 in Khost versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $791 in Khost versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Khost costs roughly 68% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Khost 71% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 ؋175
$11.60 MX$200
-76.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.65 ؋493
$47.11 MX$811
-83.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.65 ؋299
$11.88 MX$205
-60.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 ؋146
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 ؋121
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.13 ؋72.8
$3.98 MX$68.5
-71.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ؋31.34
$1.43 MX$24.57
-65.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ؋9.53
$0.82 MX$14.20
-81.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.19 MX$54.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79 MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 ؋55.9
$1.68 MX$28.85
-48.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.25 ؋16.15
$2.20 MX$37.83
-88.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ؋116
$1.71 MX$29.41
5.26%
Eggs
$1.59 ؋103
$2.74 MX$47.20
-41.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.32 ؋279
$9.58 MX$165
-54.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 ؋251
$9.01 MX$155
-56.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.82 ؋439
$12.81 MX$221
-46.76%
Apples (1kg)
$0.72 ؋46.69
$2.89 MX$49.74
-75.09%
Banana (1kg)
$0.84 ؋54.3
$1.50 MX$25.78
-44.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.95 ؋61.2
$2.15 MX$36.98
-55.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 ؋35.36
$2.26 MX$38.91
-75.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 ؋38.67
$1.98 MX$34.10
-69.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 ؋32.36
$1.99 MX$34.26
-74.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 ؋19.49
$1.23 MX$21.25
-75.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ؋25.31
$1.20 MX$20.60
-67.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.88 ؋121
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ؋47.88
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 ؋67.0
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 ؋157
$4.55 MX$78.3
-46.37%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.37 MX$179
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 MX$27.88
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88 MX$49.60
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ؋28.31
$0.60 MX$10.34
-26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.82 ؋1,213
$28.80 MX$496
-34.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 ؋52.0
$5.39 MX$92.8
-84.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 ؋31.12
$3.73 MX$64.2
-87.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ؋153
$5.77 MX$99.3
-58.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 ؋66.7
$1.54 MX$26.45
-33.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,376 ؋539.8K
$22.5K MX$388.3K
-62.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K ؋2.3M
$26.1K MX$448.7K
33.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.16 ؋2,782
$91.4 MX$1,573
-52.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.84 ؋827
$25.20 MX$434
-49.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$96.3 ؋6,209
$31.24 MX$538
208.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$7.61 ؋490
$67.2 MX$1,157
-88.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98 ؋386
$29.11 MX$501
-79.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.37 ؋152
$4.86 MX$83.7
-51.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.46 ؋1,319
$224 MX$3,851
-90.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,043 ؋67.2K
$4,229 MX$72.8K
-75.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.49 ؋676
$47.10 MX$811
-77.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.27 ؋1,048
$44.29 MX$763
-63.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.5 ؋3,704
$80.1 MX$1,379
-28.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.65 ؋1,589
$92.7 MX$1,596
-73.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$30.67 ؋1,976
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-97.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$15.67 ؋1,010
$390 MX$6,719
-95.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$76.4 ؋4,922
$2,149 MX$37.0K
-96.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$45.39 ؋2,925
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-96.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,001 MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,502 MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 ؋12.0K
$758 MX$13.1K
-75.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
11.45
-12.66%

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

Last update for Khost: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $30.67 in Khost and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 309% 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: $8.00 in Khost vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $102 vs $276 per month, with Khost 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
Khost vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Khost?
Khost is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 217% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khost or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 309% 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.
What is the rent difference between Khost and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $30.67 in Khost versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Khost or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Khost – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Khost and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $399 per month in Khost versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 217% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Khost or in Playa del Carmen?
At $399 in Khost versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khost but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Khost the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Khost or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Khost 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khost gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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