🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Koysinjaq versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,076 in Koysinjaq versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Koysinjaq versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Koysinjaq costs roughly 43% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Koysinjaq46% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23IQD 2,924
$11.87MX$204
-81.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.27IQD 16.1K
$42.90MX$736
-71.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.79IQD 11.5K
$10.65MX$183
-17.46%
Cappuccino
$1.57IQD 2,054
$3.45MX$59.2
-54.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 514
$1.50MX$25.81
-74.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17IQD 228
$0.95MX$16.28
-82.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93IQD 2,524
$3.03MX$51.9
-36.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08IQD 2,720
$4.61MX$79.1
-54.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12IQD 1,470
$1.38MX$23.61
-18.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80IQD 1,046
$1.85MX$31.70
-56.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,524
$1.61MX$27.65
-27.95%
Eggs
$1.56IQD 2,046
$2.59MX$44.51
-39.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54IQD 9,868
$8.26MX$142
-8.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88IQD 5,076
$8.37MX$144
-53.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.08IQD 11.9K
$10.66MX$183
-14.82%
Apples(1kg)
$0.78IQD 1,027
$2.63MX$45.12
-70.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,485
$1.49MX$25.53
-24.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,462
$1.92MX$32.94
-41.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55IQD 715
$2.09MX$35.81
-73.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59IQD 770
$1.86MX$31.88
-68.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59IQD 777
$2.26MX$38.81
-73.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40IQD 522
$1.06MX$18.23
-62.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 474
$1.09MX$18.67
-66.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34IQD 3,062
$4.15MX$71.2
-43.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.39IQD 16.2K
$10.39MX$178
19.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43IQD 1,867
$1.72MX$29.59
-16.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95IQD 2,550
$2.61MX$44.85
-25.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37IQD 479
$0.54MX$9.30
-31.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.34IQD 41.0K
$26.94MX$462
16.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56IQD 2,042
$3.13MX$53.7
-50.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79IQD 1,031
$2.51MX$43.09
-68.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.74IQD 4,900
$3.15MX$54.1
18.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65IQD 856
$1.27MX$21.88
-48.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4KIQD 24.0M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-22.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.7IQD 130.5K
$83.0MX$1,425
20.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.52IQD 22.9K
$22.71MX$390
-22.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.19IQD 39.5K
$29.46MX$506
2.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.44IQD 49.0K
$51.0MX$875
-26.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.56IQD 21.7K
$18.33MX$315
-9.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56IQD 15.1K
$4.93MX$84.5
134.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$64.1IQD 83.9K
$197MX$3,386
-67.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,146IQD 1.5M
$5,280MX$90.6K
-78.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.58IQD 20.4K
$36.90MX$633
-57.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.99IQD 24.9K
$39.89MX$685
-52.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3IQD 109.1K
$80.0MX$1,373
4.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.90IQD 24.7K
$89.5MX$1,536
-78.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$246IQD 322.2K
$956MX$16.4K
-74.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176IQD 230.1K
$477MX$8,189
-63.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591IQD 773.3K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349IQD 456.5K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-71.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
11.42
-50.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koysinjaq: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Koysinjaq and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Koysinjaq vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $250 per month, with Koysinjaq 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
Koysinjaq vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koysinjaq or Playa del Carmen?
Koysinjaq wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koysinjaq the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Koysinjaq vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,096 in Koysinjaq 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Koysinjaq vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Koysinjaq versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Koysinjaq compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Koysinjaq versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Koysinjaq vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Koysinjaq runs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Koysinjaq or Playa del Carmen?
At $731 in Koysinjaq versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koysinjaq but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Koysinjaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Koysinjaq or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koysinjaq delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $731 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koysinjaq hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koysinjaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.