🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $49.69 in Khost versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $85.0 in Khost versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $121 in Khost versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Khost costs roughly 96% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Khost96% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.87MX$204
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.90MX$736
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.65MX$183
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.45MX$59.2
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.50MX$25.81
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.95MX$16.28
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$51.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61MX$79.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.38MX$23.61
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.85MX$31.70
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.61MX$27.65
-
Eggs
-
$2.59MX$44.51
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.26MX$142
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.37MX$144
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.66MX$183
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.63MX$45.12
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.49MX$25.53
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.92MX$32.94
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.09MX$35.81
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.86MX$31.88
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.26MX$38.81
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06MX$18.23
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09MX$18.67
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.94؋125
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15MX$71.2
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.39MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41؋26.51
$0.54MX$9.30
-24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.53؋1,125
$26.94MX$462
-34.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69؋44.47
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70؋45.08
$2.51MX$43.09
-72.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.12؋136
$3.15MX$54.1
-32.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17؋74.9
$1.27MX$21.88
-7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.0MX$1,425
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.71MX$390
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.46MX$506
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$6.99؋448
$51.0MX$875
-86.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76؋370
$18.33MX$315
-68.58%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79؋179
$4.93MX$84.5
-43.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$197MX$3,386
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,280MX$90.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.90MX$633
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.89MX$685
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.0MX$1,373
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$89.5MX$1,536
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$29.29؋1,879
$956MX$16.4K
-96.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$14.63؋938
$477MX$8,189
-96.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$72.7؋4,664
$1,646MX$28.3K
-95.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$43.88؋2,815
$1,225MX$21.0K
-96.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khost
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$189؋12.1K
$667MX$11.4K
-71.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
11.42
-12.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khost: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $29.29 in Khost and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 253% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2457% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Khost or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 253% less. 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: $29.29 in Khost 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 public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Khost runs roughly 54% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What are total monthly expenses in Khost vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $49.69 per month in Khost versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 2457% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Khost or Playa del Carmen?
At $49.69 in Khost versus $1,271 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 2457% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.