🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $728 in Koysinjaq versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,075 in Koysinjaq versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Koysinjaq versus $3,082 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 Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.23IQD 2,924
$11.94MX$208
-81.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.07IQD 15.8K
$42.75MX$744
-71.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94IQD 11.7K
$10.59MX$184
-15.58%
Cappuccino
$1.48IQD 1,945
$3.62MX$63.0
-59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 520
$1.47MX$25.54
-72.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 263
$0.94MX$16.41
-78.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02IQD 2,652
$3.09MX$53.8
-34.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16IQD 2,829
$4.46MX$77.6
-51.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18IQD 1,551
$1.43MX$24.80
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76IQD 993
$1.88MX$32.79
-59.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,472
$1.63MX$28.34
-31.29%
Eggs
$1.49IQD 1,954
$2.64MX$45.99
-43.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53IQD 9,860
$8.21MX$143
-8.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.86IQD 5,059
$8.29MX$144
-53.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.10IQD 11.9K
$11.10MX$193
-18.02%
Apples(1kg)
$0.75IQD 981
$2.65MX$46.14
-71.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17IQD 1,533
$1.50MX$26.11
-22.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13IQD 1,476
$1.99MX$34.59
-43.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55IQD 720
$2.08MX$36.13
-73.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55IQD 718
$1.79MX$31.11
-69.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55IQD 716
$2.18MX$37.87
-74.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36IQD 478
$1.08MX$18.73
-66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 481
$1.04MX$18.04
-64.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35IQD 3,078
$3.97MX$69.1
-40.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.18IQD 16.0K
$10.20MX$178
19.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43IQD 1,877
$1.73MX$30.04
-17.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92IQD 2,516
$2.50MX$43.46
-23.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37IQD 482
$0.52MX$9.02
-28.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.44IQD 41.2K
$26.97MX$469
16.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56IQD 2,050
$3.14MX$54.7
-50.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79IQD 1,041
$2.40MX$41.80
-67.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.85IQD 5,039
$3.09MX$53.7
24.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70IQD 918
$1.27MX$22.16
-44.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KIQD 25.5M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-36.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3KIQD 24.0M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-21.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.2IQD 130.0K
$82.0MX$1,427
21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.85IQD 23.4K
$22.45MX$391
-20.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.90IQD 39.2K
$29.66MX$516
0.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.01IQD 47.2K
$51.9MX$903
-30.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61IQD 21.8K
$18.67MX$325
-11.03%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64IQD 15.3K
$4.97MX$86.5
134.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$64.4IQD 84.3K
$198MX$3,442
-67.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,128IQD 1.5M
$5,273MX$91.7K
-78.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.12IQD 19.8K
$36.34MX$632
-58.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.48IQD 25.5K
$40.05MX$697
-51.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2IQD 108.9K
$79.9MX$1,390
4.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.18IQD 25.1K
$88.9MX$1,547
-78.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240IQD 314.6K
$963MX$16.8K
-75.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 231.7K
$465MX$8,086
-61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584IQD 765.3K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-63.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$344IQD 450.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-71.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koysinjaq
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Koysinjaq and $963 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 $161 vs $251 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 77% 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 $1,093 in Koysinjaq and $1,930 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: $240 in Koysinjaq versus $963 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 $728 per month in Koysinjaq versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 77% 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 17% 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 $728 in Koysinjaq versus $1,287 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 $728 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 77% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.