😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,290 in Kiryat Ata versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,308 in Kiryat Ata versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,326 in Kiryat Ata versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Kiryat Ata is roughly 80% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kiryat Ata is 70% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.42₪62.5
$11.87MX$204
80.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.1₪245
$42.90MX$736
95.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.28₪44.54
$10.65MX$183
43.47%
Cappuccino
$4.18₪12.17
$3.45MX$59.2
21.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85₪8.32
$1.50MX$25.81
90.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43₪7.08
$0.95MX$16.28
155.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.21₪26.85
$3.03MX$51.9
203.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.34₪24.31
$4.61MX$79.1
80.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03₪5.93
$1.38MX$23.61
47.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.50₪7.29
$1.85MX$31.70
35.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30₪9.63
$1.61MX$27.65
104.97%
Eggs
$4.19₪12.21
$2.59MX$44.51
61.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.74₪45.90
$8.26MX$142
90.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.33₪30.11
$8.37MX$144
23.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.54₪62.8
$10.66MX$183
102.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20₪9.33
$2.63MX$45.12
21.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32₪6.75
$1.49MX$25.53
55.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90₪5.54
$1.92MX$32.94
-1.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18₪6.36
$2.09MX$35.81
4.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50₪4.37
$1.86MX$31.88
-19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57₪4.57
$2.26MX$38.81
-30.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90₪5.55
$1.06MX$18.23
79.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50₪4.38
$1.09MX$18.67
37.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67₪31.10
$4.15MX$71.2
157.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47₪39.27
$10.39MX$178
29.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91₪8.47
$1.72MX$29.59
69.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48₪10.14
$2.61MX$44.85
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72₪5.03
$0.54MX$9.30
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.9₪195
$26.94MX$462
148.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84₪11.20
$3.13MX$53.7
22.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87₪2.54
$2.51MX$43.09
-65.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.18₪93.8
$3.15MX$54.1
921.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98₪5.77
$1.27MX$21.88
55.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.4K₪135.3K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
52.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.8K₪127.7K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
85.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238₪693
$83.0MX$1,425
186.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.85₪28.73
$22.71MX$390
-56.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.74₪80.9
$29.46MX$506
-5.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.9₪195
$51.0MX$875
31.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28₪53.3
$18.33MX$315
-0.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.60₪36.73
$4.93MX$84.5
155.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,047₪3,053
$197MX$3,386
430.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,950₪11.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-25.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3₪257
$36.90MX$633
139.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0₪157
$39.89MX$685
35.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113₪328
$80.0MX$1,373
40.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109₪318
$89.5MX$1,536
21.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020₪2,975
$956MX$16.4K
6.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$944₪2,753
$477MX$8,189
97.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,516₪4,422
$1,646MX$28.3K
-7.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,384₪4,036
$1,225MX$21.0K
13.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,470₪27.6K
$3,918MX$67.2K
141.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,033₪23.4K
$6,459MX$110.9K
24.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kiryat Ata
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Kiryat Ata and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $84.0 in Kiryat Ata vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $250 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 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,435 in Kiryat Ata and $1,906 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: $1,020 in Kiryat Ata versus $956 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 $1,047 in Kiryat Ata versus $197 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 48% 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,290 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 80% 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