😐A single person spends $1,771 per month in Kifisia vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,779 per month in Kifisia vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,787 per month in Kifisia vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Kifisia costs about 36% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kifisia sits 28% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10€14.74
$11.96MX$203
42.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3€60.6
$47.38MX$804
48.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.21€7.94
$11.75MX$199
-21.62%
Cappuccino
$4.37€3.77
$4.12MX$70.0
6.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00€2.58
$1.40MX$23.74
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.53
$0.91MX$15.48
-32.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96€5.13
$3.21MX$54.4
85.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.89€5.08
$7.07MX$120
-16.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$1.68MX$28.44
19.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54€1.33
$2.15MX$36.48
-28.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90€2.50
$1.77MX$30.10
63.84%
Eggs
$5.19€4.47
$2.82MX$47.76
84.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.57€11.70
$9.20MX$156
47.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.07€9.54
$9.23MX$157
19.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.29€13.18
$12.64MX$214
20.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$2.95MX$50.1
-19.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.58MX$26.79
37.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$2.22MX$37.70
-35.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.36MX$40.09
-2.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15€0.99
$1.99MX$33.81
-42.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.01
$1.98MX$33.58
-40.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87€0.75
$1.24MX$21.04
-29.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$1.21MX$20.55
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87€5.06
$4.60MX$78.1
27.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43€8.99
$10.52MX$178
-0.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.54
$1.69MX$28.70
5.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71€2.34
$2.77MX$47.06
-2.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40€1.21
$0.60MX$10.22
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.44€41.75
$29.70MX$504
63.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.75€4.10
$5.24MX$88.8
-9.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$3.65MX$61.9
-70.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.74€12.71
$5.78MX$98.1
155.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18€1.88
$1.54MX$26.09
41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K€24.7K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
25.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K€20.8K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
-6.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$226€195
$90.7MX$1,538
149.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.03€24.16
$25.19MX$427
11.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.53€28.04
$31.75MX$539
2.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3€45.06
$68.8MX$1,167
-24.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.44€22.79
$29.37MX$498
-9.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.82€8.47
$4.86MX$82.5
102.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$602€519
$226MX$3,828
166.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€9,876
$4,194MX$71.1K
173.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0€70.7
$47.38MX$804
73.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.30€35.60
$43.45MX$737
-4.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.1
$80.2MX$1,361
30.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€95.6
$91.4MX$1,550
21.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501€432
$1,086MX$18.4K
-53.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634€546
$409MX$6,933
55.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782€674
$1,972MX$33.5K
-60.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,285€1,108
$1,281MX$21.7K
0.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,884€4,210
$4,046MX$68.6K
20.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,207€2,764
$6,704MX$113.7K
-52.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kifisia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,995€1,720
$773MX$13.1K
157.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
11.45
-61.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kifisia: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Kifisia versus $1,086 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.
💰Salaries run about 158% higher in Kifisia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Kifisia versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $278 – 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 – Kifisia is pricier by about 36%, 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 $2,657 per month in Kifisia and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 63% 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 $602 per month in Kifisia and $226 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 living in Kifisia or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Kifisia at $1,771. 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 – 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 – 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.