😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,302 in Kiryat Ata versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,395 in Kiryat Ata versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,488 in Kiryat Ata versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Kiryat Ata is roughly 79% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kiryat Ata is 72% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.43₪63.9
$11.94MX$209
79.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6₪255
$42.75MX$748
100.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.30₪45.58
$10.59MX$185
44.48%
Cappuccino
$4.00₪11.93
$3.62MX$63.4
10.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89₪8.61
$1.47MX$25.69
96.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43₪7.23
$0.94MX$16.51
158.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.14₪27.23
$3.09MX$54.1
195.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31₪24.76
$4.46MX$78.0
86.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08₪6.20
$1.43MX$24.94
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52₪7.52
$1.88MX$32.97
34.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20₪9.55
$1.63MX$28.50
96.32%
Eggs
$4.03₪12.02
$2.64MX$46.26
52.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.03₪47.76
$8.21MX$144
95.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.45₪31.13
$8.29MX$145
26.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.81₪65.0
$11.10MX$194
96.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11₪9.28
$2.65MX$46.40
17.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34₪6.96
$1.50MX$26.26
56.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91₪5.68
$1.99MX$34.79
-4.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18₪6.48
$2.08MX$36.33
4.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45₪4.31
$1.79MX$31.29
-18.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53₪4.57
$2.18MX$38.09
-29.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98₪5.89
$1.08MX$18.84
83.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50₪4.46
$1.04MX$18.15
44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.77₪32.10
$3.97MX$69.5
171.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.98₪47.63
$10.20MX$179
56.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89₪8.62
$1.73MX$30.22
67.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45₪10.27
$2.50MX$43.71
38.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71₪5.11
$0.52MX$9.07
228.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.0₪194
$26.97MX$472
140.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.96₪11.82
$3.14MX$55.0
26.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87₪2.60
$2.40MX$42.04
-63.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.29₪96.2
$3.09MX$54.0
944.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07₪6.16
$1.27MX$22.28
62.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.7K₪139.1K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
51.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K₪132.6K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
90.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236₪703
$82.0MX$1,435
187.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70₪28.91
$22.45MX$393
-56.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60₪82.3
$29.66MX$519
-6.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2₪200
$51.9MX$908
29.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49₪55.1
$18.67MX$327
-0.96%
Cinema Ticket
$12.60₪37.56
$4.97MX$87.0
153.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,042₪3,105
$198MX$3,462
426.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,937₪11.7K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-25.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2₪260
$36.34MX$636
139.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5₪165
$40.05MX$701
38.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113₪338
$79.9MX$1,398
41.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106₪315
$88.9MX$1,555
19.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006₪2,997
$963MX$16.9K
4.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$939₪2,797
$465MX$8,133
101.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,512₪4,505
$1,596MX$27.9K
-5.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403₪4,180
$1,209MX$21.2K
16.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,671₪28.8K
$3,942MX$69.0K
145.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,036₪21.0K
$6,448MX$112.8K
9.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,200₪6,555
$720MX$12.6K
205.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.35
11.42
-53.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kiryat Ata: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Kiryat Ata and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kiryat Ata pays 205% 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: $86.0 in Kiryat Ata vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $251 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 79% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kiryat Ata or Playa del Carmen?
Kiryat Ata pays 205% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kiryat Ata and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Kiryat Ata versus $963 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 $1,042 in Kiryat Ata versus $198 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% 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 Kiryat Ata or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,302 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 79% 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