๐A single person spends $1,752 per month in Kifisia vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,754 per month in Kifisia vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,756 per month in Kifisia vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Kifisia costs about 39% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Kifisia sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39โฌ14.84
$11.67MX$202
49.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$41.88MX$726
50.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.19โฌ7.84
$10.40MX$180
-11.63%
Cappuccino
$4.26โฌ3.63
$3.61MX$62.6
18.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49โฌ2.13
$1.47MX$25.45
69.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57โฌ0.48
$0.91MX$15.80
-37.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95โฌ5.07
$3.03MX$52.6
96.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68โฌ4.84
$4.47MX$77.4
27.07%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95โฌ1.66
$1.38MX$23.83
41.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63โฌ1.39
$1.84MX$31.93
-11.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80โฌ2.39
$1.61MX$27.82
73.91%
Eggs
$5.07โฌ4.32
$2.57MX$44.52
97.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.76โฌ11.74
$8.49MX$147
62.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.01โฌ9.39
$8.49MX$147
29.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.87โฌ12.68
$10.99MX$190
35.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25โฌ1.92
$2.73MX$47.25
-17.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13โฌ1.82
$1.50MX$25.92
42.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29โฌ1.10
$1.96MX$33.93
-34.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38โฌ2.03
$2.12MX$36.70
12.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.22
$1.86MX$32.30
-23.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18โฌ1.00
$2.17MX$37.67
-45.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04โฌ0.89
$1.07MX$18.59
-2.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49โฌ0.42
$1.05MX$18.18
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81โฌ4.96
$4.19MX$72.6
38.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.11โฌ9.48
$10.28MX$178
8.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$1.67MX$28.87
1.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45โฌ2.09
$2.49MX$43.12
-1.61%
๐ Getting Around
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$0.54MX$9.37
162.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.46โฌ38.78
$26.27MX$455
73.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.71โฌ4.02
$3.10MX$53.8
51.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.46MX$42.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.75โฌ11.73
$3.24MX$56.1
324.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08โฌ1.77
$1.26MX$21.83
65.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5Kโฌ25.1K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6Kโฌ25.3K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
26.42%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232โฌ198
$84.0MX$1,456
176.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.84โฌ22.90
$22.21MX$385
20.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.63โฌ29.54
$29.65MX$514
16.80%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.33โฌ41.23
$52.6MX$912
-8.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.68โฌ21.91
$18.34MX$318
40.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.82โฌ8.38
$4.95MX$85.7
98.38%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$559โฌ477
$198MX$3,438
181.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4Kโฌ9,700
$5,322MX$92.2K
113.69%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.6โฌ80.7
$35.95MX$623
163.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36โฌ34.42
$40.06MX$694
0.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102โฌ86.8
$78.8MX$1,365
29.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7โฌ81.6
$86.5MX$1,499
10.61%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489โฌ417
$977MX$16.9K
-49.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631โฌ538
$471MX$8,158
34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776โฌ662
$1,595MX$27.6K
-51.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,277โฌ1,090
$1,215MX$21.1K
5.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,943โฌ4,217
$4,032MX$69.9K
22.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,285โฌ2,803
$6,579MX$114.0K
-50.06%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,076โฌ1,771
$714MX$12.4K
190.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
11.42
-56.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kifisia: April 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Kifisia versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 191% higher in Kifisia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Kifisia versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $252 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kifisia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kifisia?
Yes โ Kifisia is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,629 per month in Kifisia and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $559 per month in Kifisia and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kifisia or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Kifisia at $1,752. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kifisia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kifisia or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kifisia or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kifisia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.