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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $430 per month in Kilifi vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $770 per month in Kilifi vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,110 per month in Kilifi vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kilifi is about 67% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kilifi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kilifi 68% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 KES 294

$11.73 MX$203

-80.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 KES 6,593

$41.62 MX$720

22.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 KES 307

$10.64 MX$184

-77.73%

Cappuccino

$1.91 KES 248

$3.52 MX$60.9

-45.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 KES 103

$1.51 MX$26.12

-47.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 KES 98.2

$0.97 MX$16.84

-21.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 KES 245

$2.95 MX$51.0

-35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 KES 114

$1.38 MX$23.93

-36.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 KES 97.2

$1.89 MX$32.72

-60.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 KES 254

$1.64 MX$28.32

19.51%

Eggs

$1.88 KES 243

$2.51 MX$43.34

-25.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 KES 295

$2.60 MX$45.04

-12.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 KES 117

$1.46 MX$25.20

-38.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KES 232

$1.90 MX$32.87

-5.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 KES 90.2

$2.08 MX$35.91

-66.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 KES 82.5

$1.78 MX$30.71

-64.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 KES 77.6

$2.19 MX$37.80

-72.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 KES 31.25

$1.08 MX$18.62

-77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 KES 1,628

$10.32 MX$178

21.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 KES 255

$1.71 MX$29.61

15.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KES 97.6

$0.51 MX$8.81

47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 KES 3,464

$26.46 MX$458

1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 KES 98.1

$2.49 MX$43.09

-69.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 KES 170

$1.31 MX$22.61

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$15.25 KES 1,976

$82.9 MX$1,433

-81.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.26 KES 1,329

$22.22 MX$384

-53.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.87 KES 3,222

$29.34 MX$507

-15.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.59 KES 3,574

$51.6 MX$893

-46.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 KES 981

$5.07 MX$87.6

49.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$163 KES 21.1K

$201 MX$3,473

-19.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,961 KES 642.6K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-4.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.76 KES 1,265

$36.92 MX$639

-73.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.06 KES 1,174

$39.79 MX$688

-77.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.31 KES 1,984

$78.5 MX$1,357

-80.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$17.27 KES 2,238

$87.1 MX$1,506

-80.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 KES 22.9K

$973 MX$16.8K

-81.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 KES 14.7K

$468 MX$8,090

-75.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 KES 34.5K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-83.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 KES 34.8K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-77.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 KES 29.5K

$664 MX$11.5K

-65.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-29.95%

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

Last update for Kilifi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Kilifi versus $973 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 191% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $51.0 in Kilifi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Kilifi vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Kilifi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kilifi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $430 in Kilifi, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 202% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $645 per month in Kilifi and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $163 per month in Kilifi and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 149% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $430, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Kilifi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $430 in Kilifi to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.