🙂A single person spends $1,048 per month in Kimberley vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,772 per month in Kimberley vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,496 per month in Kimberley vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Kimberley is about 17% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Kimberley and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Kimberley22% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.05R 182
$11.99MX$209
-7.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.20R 564
$41.78MX$728
-18.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.77R 95.2
$10.75MX$187
-46.33%
Cappuccino
$2.76R 45.52
$3.50MX$60.9
-21.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20R 19.73
$1.45MX$25.22
-17.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16R 19.10
$0.88MX$15.41
31.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47R 40.69
$2.95MX$51.3
-16.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45R 40.47
$4.51MX$78.6
-45.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50R 24.73
$1.43MX$24.94
4.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03R 16.94
$1.84MX$31.99
-44.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84R 46.80
$1.57MX$27.31
80.89%
Eggs
$2.61R 43.09
$2.51MX$43.74
3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.02R 99.4
$8.28MX$144
-27.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.67R 93.6
$8.43MX$147
-32.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.85R 130
$10.68MX$186
-26.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05R 33.86
$2.61MX$45.43
-21.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26R 37.24
$1.44MX$25.04
56.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53R 25.27
$1.96MX$34.16
-21.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.02R 49.90
$2.09MX$36.47
44.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26R 37.23
$1.85MX$32.24
22.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16R 19.15
$2.17MX$37.74
-46.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24R 20.41
$1.03MX$17.96
20.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85R 14.08
$1.07MX$18.70
-20.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93R 48.31
$4.10MX$71.4
-28.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.57R 108
$10.17MX$177
-35.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15R 35.56
$1.68MX$29.17
27.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60R 42.83
$2.53MX$43.98
2.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69R 27.92
$0.51MX$8.87
231.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.27R 500
$26.04MX$453
16.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.64R 10.55
$3.23MX$56.3
-80.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94R 15.51
$2.41MX$41.88
-61.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.11R 67.9
$3.23MX$56.2
27.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38R 22.70
$1.32MX$23.00
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KR 349.7K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
-28.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KR 394.7K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.8R 1,597
$82.0MX$1,428
17.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.38R 650
$22.95MX$400
71.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.48R 751
$30.11MX$524
51.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.90R 345
$52.0MX$905
-59.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91R 114
$4.98MX$86.6
38.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$158R 2,611
$197MX$3,438
-19.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,267R 70.4K
$5,336MX$92.9K
-20.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.98R 561
$35.60MX$620
-4.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.75R 541
$40.33MX$702
-18.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3R 1,407
$78.8MX$1,371
8.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6R 1,297
$88.9MX$1,549
-11.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242R 4,002
$947MX$16.5K
-74.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307R 5,068
$474MX$8,254
-35.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585R 9,651
$1,644MX$28.6K
-64.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$863R 14.2K
$1,211MX$21.1K
-28.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$879R 14.5K
$4,056MX$70.6K
-78.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$802R 13.2K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-87.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kimberley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$930R 15.3K
$654MX$11.4K
42.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
11.42
0.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kimberley: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Kimberley versus $947 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 42% higher in Kimberley, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Kimberley versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $249 – making Kimberley 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
Kimberley vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kimberley?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,572 per month in Kimberley and $1,884 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 Kimberley, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kimberley and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,048 in Kimberley and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Kimberley. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kimberley or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kimberley, where all-in costs run around $1,048, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Kimberley it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kimberley or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kimberley – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kimberley. 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.