😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,745 in Kiryat Ata versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,140 in Kiryat Ata versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,536 in Kiryat Ata versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Kiryat Ata is roughly 106% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kiryat Ata is 100% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.31₪81.9
$13.02MX$221
109.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$113₪338
$46.25MX$784
143.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.12₪60.3
$12.59MX$213
59.81%
Cappuccino
$4.83₪14.48
$4.00MX$67.9
20.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53₪10.58
$1.42MX$24.08
148.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20₪9.58
$0.81MX$13.73
295.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.81₪32.39
$3.05MX$51.7
254.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.29₪33.83
$6.82MX$116
65.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.66₪7.98
$1.71MX$29.04
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$3.84₪11.52
$2.22MX$37.62
72.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93₪11.79
$1.72MX$29.13
128.49%
Eggs
$5.13₪15.37
$2.71MX$45.99
89.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.89₪53.6
$9.37MX$159
90.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.11₪39.29
$8.86MX$150
47.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.55₪73.6
$12.78MX$217
92.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.56₪13.67
$3.13MX$53.0
45.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97₪8.90
$1.55MX$26.24
91.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45₪7.35
$2.15MX$36.51
13.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61₪7.83
$2.35MX$39.89
11.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99₪5.97
$2.02MX$34.23
-1.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88₪5.64
$1.99MX$33.67
-5.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.45₪7.34
$1.24MX$21.09
97.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15₪3.45
$1.19MX$20.21
-3.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.91₪41.67
$4.65MX$78.8
199.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.53₪46.52
$10.47MX$177
48.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36₪10.07
$1.58MX$26.82
112.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92₪14.73
$2.92MX$49.48
68.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75₪8.24
$0.56MX$9.53
391.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.5₪238
$29.76MX$504
167.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58₪13.72
$5.32MX$90.2
-13.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15₪3.44
$3.72MX$63.0
-69.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.47₪61.3
$5.78MX$97.9
254.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.75₪8.24
$1.55MX$26.27
77.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$58.5K₪175.2K
$22.4KMX$379.1K
161.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.9K₪173.5K
$25.6KMX$433.3K
126.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$268₪803
$89.3MX$1,513
200.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.00₪35.96
$23.30MX$395
-48.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.42₪112
$31.72MX$538
17.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0₪207
$68.8MX$1,165
0.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.40MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.10₪48.26
$5.06MX$85.7
218.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,209₪3,624
$222MX$3,765
444.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$32.4K₪97.2K
$4,293MX$72.7K
655.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118₪353
$46.21MX$783
154.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.5₪220
$44.43MX$753
65.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139₪417
$95.5MX$1,618
45.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160₪479
$92.5MX$1,568
72.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628₪4,878
$1,069MX$18.1K
52.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,001₪2,998
$393MX$6,663
154.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,335₪6,996
$1,988MX$33.7K
17.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,141₪6,417
$1,304MX$22.1K
64.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,475₪25.4K
$4,037MX$68.4K
109.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,701₪20.1K
$6,627MX$112.3K
1.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$747MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.03
11.6
-56.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kiryat Ata: August 18, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Kiryat Ata and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $113 in Kiryat Ata vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $449 vs $277 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Kiryat Ata vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kiryat Ata?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,117 in Kiryat Ata and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Kiryat Ata and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Kiryat Ata versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,209 in Kiryat Ata versus $222 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Kiryat Ata and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Kiryat Ata. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kiryat Ata or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,745 in Kiryat Ata, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kiryat Ata. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kiryat Ata or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kiryat Ata, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kiryat Ata or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Kiryat Ata 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 106% less than in Kiryat Ata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kiryat Ata vs other spots: cost of living compared