😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Kilkis versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Kilkis versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,556 in Kilkis versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Kilkis is roughly 13% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kilkis is 7% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.06€11.26
$11.87MX$204
10.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.46€20.21
$42.90MX$736
-45.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52€8.20
$10.65MX$183
-10.61%
Cappuccino
$3.72€3.20
$3.45MX$59.2
7.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$1.50MX$25.81
11.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.95MX$16.28
-41.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99€3.43
$3.03MX$51.9
31.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70€4.91
$4.61MX$79.1
23.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$1.38MX$23.61
10.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60€1.38
$1.85MX$31.70
-13.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16€1.86
$1.61MX$27.65
34.16%
Eggs
$4.18€3.60
$2.59MX$44.51
61.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.69€11.79
$8.26MX$142
65.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68€8.34
$8.37MX$144
15.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.00€11.20
$10.66MX$183
21.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.03
$2.63MX$45.12
-10.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.62
$1.49MX$25.53
25.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07€0.92
$1.92MX$32.94
-44.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$2.09MX$35.81
-4.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08€0.93
$1.86MX$31.88
-41.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22€1.05
$2.26MX$38.81
-46.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04€0.90
$1.06MX$18.23
-1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45€0.39
$1.09MX$18.67
-58.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35€4.61
$4.15MX$71.2
28.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.56€9.96
$10.39MX$178
11.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$1.72MX$29.59
-4.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.01
$2.61MX$44.85
-10.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53€1.31
$0.54MX$9.30
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.11€40.59
$26.94MX$462
74.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.57€3.93
$3.13MX$53.7
46.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.51MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.28€8.00
$3.15MX$54.1
194.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.27MX$21.88
63.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.4K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
12.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K€25.4K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
25.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287€247
$83.0MX$1,425
245.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.11€20.77
$22.71MX$390
6.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.82€27.41
$29.46MX$506
8.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.65€24.69
$51.0MX$875
-43.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.31€22.67
$18.33MX$315
43.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.59€7.40
$4.93MX$84.5
74.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$516€445
$197MX$3,386
161.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,617€4,840
$5,280MX$90.6K
6.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4€45.18
$36.90MX$633
42.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.44€25.37
$39.89MX$685
-26.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.9€49.90
$80.0MX$1,373
-27.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.46€40.03
$89.5MX$1,536
-48.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$400€345
$956MX$16.4K
-58.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406€350
$477MX$8,189
-14.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586€505
$1,646MX$28.3K
-64.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585€504
$1,225MX$21.0K
-52.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092€2,664
$3,918MX$67.2K
-21.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,498€2,152
$6,459MX$110.9K
-61.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kilkis
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$812€699
$667MX$11.4K
21.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
11.42
-62.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kilkis: June 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Kilkis and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kilkis pays 22% 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: $23.00 in Kilkis vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $250, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kilkis vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kilkis and Playa del Carmen?
Kilkis and Playa del Carmen differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $1,271 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kilkis or Playa del Carmen?
Kilkis pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kilkis and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $400 in Kilkis versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kilkis and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $516 in Kilkis versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Kilkis. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,438 in Kilkis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kilkis. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kilkis and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kilkis or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kilkis and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kilkis or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Kilkis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.